​I am writing this after Oklahoma experienced a series of severe storms during the day yesterday and last night.
Our part of the nation weather-wise is designated “Tornado Alley.” Springtime is the major tornado season for “Tornado Alley” but we can experience what are called October/November severe weather storms that can include tornadoes.
So, it is a bit unnerving and weird to be warned about potentially destructive, damaging weather in the fall. Very strange to have potential tornadoes lingering aloft while our festive neighbors are celebrating Halloween with pumpkins, black cats, skeletons, ghosts and goblins decorating their yards!
 Around 10:00 p.m. tornado sirens blared to warn us to take cover. Admittedly, the severe weather sirens are eerie, causing adrenalin to surge as blood pressure heart rates rise.
Thankfully, most of the storm damage across the state was minimal.
Today the sky is crystal clear blue. Cloudless. A cool, refreshing, gentle fall breeze is blowing through the trees. It is a stunningly gorgeous morning compared to the frightening scenario just a few short hours ago.
It is a fact of life that you and I can encounter weather and non-weather related storms. Spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, relational, financial and cultural storms can suddenly set off warning sirens that we need to heed. Storms eventually subside and go away.
Following a life storm it is significant for us to learn some life lessons about faith. In Mark 4:35-41 Jesus and His disciples were caught in a sudden, dangerous, life-threatening storm on the Sea of Galilee. Their boat was filling up with water. Sinking fast. A trip to Davey’s locker looked like a real possibility. Peter thought they were going to perish.
While Peter panicked, Jesus slept peacefully in the back of the boat.
Waves tossing the boat around rocked the Lord to sleep. Peter woke Jesus up (not a good move!) expressing his concern that they might drown. Jesus knew that is Father did not send  His only Son and His hand-picked followers to drown.
The Lord took command of the stressful situation. He got up., rebuked the wind and sea with “peace be still’—and the crisis ended. The wind died down, the sea was completely calm, and the disciples were amazed. “Who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him.”
Jesus not only rebuked the wind and sea. He rebuked the disciples with “Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?” I believe Jesus expected Peter to rebuke the storm while the Master enjoyed His nap!
I am also convinced Peter and the disciples were different men after the storm.
Who wouldn’t be having personally witnessed Jesus wake up from taking a few “Zzs” to calm the threatening waves with His word? During and after the storm, Jesus’ followers learned something about faith. How to trust the Father when storms swirl around us.
 I have a feeling they thought about not panicking the next time a storm blew into their life!
What should you and I do when a life storm has blown through our life?
How we walk by faith after a life storm passes reveals if the storm matured us in Christ or not.
After Storms

• Review the storm. What was it all about? How severe? What kind of damage was done?
• Reflect on your reaction/response to the storm. Did you panic or remain calm? What about faith in God to manage the storm?
• Repair the storm damage. Does a relationship need restored? Does someone need forgiveness? What about restitution and reconciliation?
• Resolve to handle a life storm differently next time if you did not manage this one well. How can I do better when life’s storm clouds blacken the horizon once again? Managing or mismanaging a life storm is up to me.
• Realize there are positives you can take from the storm. Learn what you can to manage your next storm with faith that overcomes.
• Relate to others how the Lord helped you endure the storm. Share what you learned about yourself when a life storm tested your faith.
• Rejoice and give thanks to God that there is always a day after the storm. The day after a storm reminds us of how good God was to care for us during the storm.

Are you experiencing a life storm right now? Trust God to bring you through it. Stand firm with faith against the storm. Rest with peaceful, confident assurance that the Lord is Lord over storms that come into our life.
Speak to your storm with faith that trusts God to take care of business! Then evaluate your faith during and after the storm. Choose to be strong in faith the next time a life storm visits you.
Tell you storm to be still in Jesus’ mighty name!
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world—our faith.” I John 5:4
A Word For Your Week: Faith is the victory during and after the storm.

​A few years ago, a cyclone ravaged parts of Australia. The damage from the savage tornadic strength winds was catastrophic. Almost every material thing in the winds swirling path was blown away.
 
The media captured a picture of one cyclone victim who lost his home, but not his spirit. On the concrete slab where his house once stood, a hand scribbled sign hung in the home’s place. The sign read: BATTERED BUT NOT BEATEN!
 
Staring at that sign, my spirit shouted with a resounding yes, awesome, and amen!
 
What an attitude this beaten up but not defeated Aussie from the land down under displayed in the middle of incomprehensible adversity. Battered by merciless, cyclonic winds that destroyed his home, surely stunned and in shock, this guy was not beaten in his heart.  
 
Could you have written that sign over your homestead that was no longer standing? This is a serious question, isn’t it?
 
I believe Paul would have. How do I know? Because of our word for this week. Under constant opposition and persecution for his faith, Paul persevered under pressure, always advancing through adversity because though battered, he possessed a I will not be beaten attitude!
 
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed II Corinthians 4:8-9
 
II Corinthians 11: 22-30 provides a detailed list of Paul’s personal battering as a representative of Jesus Christ. After reading of his sufferings for the sake of the Gospel, you will think again when you think you are having a bad day.
 
Paul, a man of courageous faith, was also realistic about spiritual warfare and the battles Christians face. His take on them was afflicted…but not crushed. Perplexed…but not despairing. Persecuted…but not forsaken. Struck down…but not destroyed.
 
Paul sounds like a man who had been battered but never beaten.
 
When you realize what Paul experienced and endured, you have to ask “How could Paul take such a battering/beating again and again and not be beaten?”
 
The answer lies in his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
I Corinthians 4:10-11 reads “Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”
 
The life of Jesus in Paul kept him from being beaten by life’s beatings.
 
As a Christian, Paul’s life was not about Paul. It was about Christ in Paul. A resurrected Christ lived in Him and gave Paul strength to overcome any and everything that life hurled at him.
           
Fellow Christians, please hear me out today. Especially if you have been or are being battered by life’s contrary winds and are starting to feel beaten.
 
You may be feeling beaten up, battered, but in no way are you beaten! Ever.
 
Meditate upon Isaiah 53:1-6. In Christ you and I are not beaten or defeated.  Jesus was battered and took a beating so when we are battered we won’t be beaten. He paid for our sin so we wouldn’t have to.
 
Jesus was beaten up but not beaten down. God’s Son took and conquered everything Satan could throw at Him and prevailed. Why? To provide salvation for you and me.
 
Some Simple Suggestions For Beating A Battering
 
·      Stop trying to figure it out what is happening to you. Stand up against the battering. Stand tall. Be strong and courageous in Christ.
·      Remember the battle is the Lord’s. Battle the battering in Jesus’ mighty name. Beat back whatever is battering you with the faith in the One who carries the biggest stick!
·      Choose and refuse to cave in to pressure. Draw upon the Holy Spirit’s power. Keep pushing back in the name of Jesus. Do all you know to do.
·      Surround yourself with a couple of faithful friends who will stand on the wall of resistance with you. Rally together to push back the gates of hell.
·      Reject the devil’s lies and all negative self-talk. Be constantly vigilant so the enemy will not be able to wear you down.
·      Rejoice! Rejoice! Shout at the top or your lungs! And I mean shout! Give thanks to God for the victory that is yours in Christ!  
 
Do you feel like a battering ram is trying to destroy your spiritual house? Why not focus on life, resurrection life in Christ? Rise up in Christ’s resurrection power. In His Almighty name, overcome the battering you are experiencing. Whatever it takes, focus your faith on victorious life in Christ.
 
Jesus is alive and present in your life. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords cannot ever be beaten, nor can you as you stand firm in faith in Him.   
 
Battered but not beaten. That is who you and I are in Christ.
 
“You are from God little children and have overcome them; because greater is He (Jesus) who is in you than he (Satan) who is in the world.”                            I John 4:4
 
A Word For Your Week: In Christ we may be battered, but never beaten!  

​Have you ever been so discouraged about something that you found yourself losing heart over the situation?
 
Losing heart is not uncommon. To lose heart is to get to a place where we are discouraged to the point of being tempted to give up. To lose heart is to conclude: What’s the use? It doesn’t matter if I try anymore. Why work so hard for so little return? Why dream and hope when hopes are dashed and dreams are crashed? The more of ourselves that we put into something that goes wrong or doesn’t work out the way we had hoped it would, the easier it is to lose heart and the ickier we feel! 
 
 Life in this world is not for the faint of heart. If you confess to be a Christian, faint-hearted faith will not cut it in a faithless culture. It takes heart (and guts!) to stand fast as believers in Christ in an unbelieving world.
 
At times when I have found my heart losing some spiritual steam, the Holy Spirit lovingly leads me to II Corinthians 4. I encourage you to read the whole chapter. When you study and meditate upon these verses, you come away with one conclusion: though Paul had many reasons to lose heart, he didn’t!
 
“Therefore, since we have this ministry as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.”   II Corinthians 4:1
 
Paul’s declaration “We do not lose heart” (In verses 1 and 16) means come what may, as a redeemed, resurrected child of the living God, Paul chose not cave in to discouragement.
           
Paul’s resolve is strong and emphatic. In the midst of persecutions, afflictions, sufferings, setbacks, criticism, ridicule, loss, being misunderstood, misrepresented, slandered, unfairly treated, identifying with Jesus Christ and suffering for His sake, Paul’s personal conviction is clear: I cannot and will not lose heart because my heart is focused on Christ, not my circumstances. Paul’s heart is strong because his relationship with Jesus is secure.
 
Losing heart is a dangerous place to be. To lose heart borders on the edge of losing hope. To lose hope is stop living and start dying.
 
You and I can never afford to lose heart because Jesus paid the price to redeem our hearts! My life is not my own (I Corinthians 6:19-20).  It is owned by Jesus. He gave His life for mine. His holy heart was pierced and broken, His precious blood was spilled,
so Steve Roll’s heart could be healed and made whole. Thank you Father for your Son’s sacrifice for me!  
 
I must admit it takes some effort to not lose heart when you are losing heart! When feeling down, I have to kick myself in the spiritual britches, rebuke my negative attitude, and make this faith declaration with all the might I can muster: Steve Roll will not lose heart. My faith stands strong in the One who has my heart. .
 
So what do I need to do when tempted to lose heart? Paul reminds us in verse 16 that our outer man is decaying, but our inner man is being renewed each day. The key to not losing heart is staying spiritually renewed and refreshed in the Lord. Renewing our inner man is God’s insurance against losing heart. Keeping our heart renewed keeps losing heart at arm’s length. 
 
 Here are few thoughts that might encourage you if you are tempted to lose heart today.
 
·      NEVER LOSE HEART when facing defeat and you can’t retreat. Stay in the game and determine to win!
·      NEVER LOSE HEART when you are doing your best and things don’t seem to be working out. Keep pursuing what you believe is right.
·      NEVER LOSE HEART when the score isn’t in your favor. Keep swinging away at what you know is right, and the score will take care of itself.  
·      NEVER LOSE HEART when people around you are discouraged and throwing in the towel. Pick up that discarded towel and give life another whirl!
·      NEVER LOSE HEART when people you trust tear you down or let you down. Rise up with courage, be who God made you to be, and prove them wrong.
·      NEVER LOSE HEART when compromise is the politically correct thing to do. Hang on to your convictions and row courageously against the tide of those who have sold their souls.  
·      NEVER LOSE HEART when life has set you back. Stand firm in faith. Keep plugging away and turn your setback into a comeback.
·      NEVER LOSE HEART when dreams become nightmares. Stir up your spirit and dare to dream again!
·      NEVER LOSE HEART when the world seems to be winning. When Jesus rose from the dead, Satan’s world system lost forever!
 
Fellow Christian, never lose heart. Take heart. Your heart belongs to Jesus. Stay strong in the Lord and the power of His might.
 
“And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.”                                                                                                Galatians 6:9
 
A Word For Your Week: We never lose heart when our heart is in the right place.

​America: a morally declining culture due to compromising convictions.
On every corner of our great country you and I witness blind-sighted, deceived people who are falling away from long-held, cherished, traditional values, moral principles, biblical beliefs and codes of personal and corporate conduct that everyday Americans have held near and dear for over 200 years. As a people, the United States is in a sad state of affairs concerning convictions.  
Unfortunately, and I say this with deep concern and heavy sorrow in my heart, the spirit of compromise has invaded, infected and is immobilizing the church.
There are some “ministers”, “fellowships” and “professing Christians”, who are in grave danger of falling away from the faith or have already turned their back on the Savior due to compromising convictions.  Culturally, politically correct theology and practice is crippling the advance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the name of tolerance, acceptance and inclusion, which have been enshrined as sacred watchwords in our wayward society, even Christian people have strayed from truth. The Truth. Jesus said what no other person has ever declared: “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6.
Because Jesus is the only way to salvation and eternal life in heaven, why wouldn’t everyone want to turn to Him, not away from Him? How can it be that some would turn their back on the One who took stripes on His back to save them from sin, death, the grave and eternal damnation? Turning away from God’s Only Son is not a good thing to do.
The Bible addresses falling away from the faith. Believe it or not, especially in the “last days”, there will be many who deny the faith and turn away from Jesus.
“And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another.” Matthew 24:10
“Make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me…” Ii Timothy 4:9
“for the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a snare.” I Timothy 6:10
“For in the case of those who have been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance since they again crucify to themselves he Son of God, and put Him to open shame.” Hebrews 6:4-6.
Jesus, Paul and the Hebrews writer make it clear: under pressure, some will fall away by forsaking the Christian faith. Their fall from faith will be great.
Think about the day you and I live in. Do you know supposed Christians who no longer confess Christ, who have dropped out of church, who are silent about Jesus, who are acting like the world, who have forsaken the Lord Himself?
Sadly, there are people falling away from Jesus all around you and me.
Factors That Contribute To Falling Away From Faith In Christ

• You no longer stand in awe, reverence and fear of Almighty God. His sovereign holiness means little or nothing to you. It you think your Creator and Redeemer is just “the man upstairs”, or only “the good Lord”, or someone or something you turn to when in trouble, your faith is seriously shallow. Cultural Christianity is not biblical Christianity.
• A lukewarm heart. Revelation 3:14-22 declares God will spit out the lukewarm follower. A cold heart toward Jesus and the body of Christ is a spiritual red flag. Cold hearts and seared consciences are a sure sign of slipping faith.
• You are falling away if you believe there are many paths to God. Jesus said He is the only way. There is only one Cross and one resurrection from the dead. There aren’t multiple saviors. The world falsely hopes there are many highways to heaven. The Bible says there is only one.
• You may be falling away if you aren’t feeding and exercising your faith. If you aren’t reading your Bible, praying, attending church regularly, fellowshipping with fellow Christians, serving in the church and our culture, and when given opportunity to share your faith with others you don’t, be careful.  A fall is closer than you think. (Hebrews 10:25).
• Worldly behavior. When you are talking and acting like those who don’t believe in God, your faith will be eroded. What about what comes out of your mouth? Who do you spend time with? Who influences you most? Would those who know you best say you act like the unbelieving world? (I John 2:15-17).
• Compromising moral convictions. When worldly values supersede biblical truth and principles, a fall can be just around the corner. The world system, influenced and empowered by Satan, labors tirelessly to deceive you and me into believing that abortion is acceptable, sex outside of marriage is normal, homosexuality is natural, same sex marriage is approved by God, lying, cheating, stealing, and corruption is fine if you want to get ahead in a greed and power based society.

None of these “positions”, as well as many others, represent biblical values in the Word of God. If you believe like the world, you are slipping down a slippery slope of unbelief.  

• You are disappointed with a life situation and blame God for it. Romans 10:11 declares “Whoever believes in Him, Jesus, will not be disappointed.” Deal with disappointment by turning to Jesus, not away from Him. Overcome adversity with faith in the Lord.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, there is no compromise when it comes to Christ’s Cross. The empty tomb demands that you and I decide with all of our heart if Jesus is God’s Son or not.
Are you completely convinced about what you believe and why you believe it? Would you lay down your life for your Christian convictions? Will you stand up for Jesus everyday of your life?
I end this blog with powerfully simple words from a historical hymn of the church.
“I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back”. “Though none go with me, still I will follow. No turning back, no turning back.”
How about you? If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, have you settled it that there is no turning back ever? Under all circumstances, will you stand for the Lord and His Word, keep the faith and finish your course for Christ? (II Timothy 4:7-8). 
As for Steve Roll, I will never compromise my Christian convictions, character or conduct.
Take a moment right now to reaffirm your faith that Jesus is your life and you will never fall away from the faith.
A Word For Your Week: Never, never turn your back on the Lord Jesus Christ.