If you have ever been lost, you know how good it felt to be found!
When I was 12 years old, Grandpa Wunderle took me deer hunting. He was a stow-away immigrant from Germany, had a deep guttural voice, distinct German accent and enjoyed eating cold sardines out of a can (smelled disgusting!). He was quite a character, called me Stevie, and wanted to show me how to hunt.
O-dark thirty (before sunrise) found us in the woods. Grandpa showed me all his hunting gear, demonstrating how it worked. He handed me a whistle.” Stevie, your job is to blow this whistle, which will drive the deer to where I am so I can shoot them.” I am sure I thought that was not very fair to Mr. Deer.
Throughout the day, I blew and blew that whistle with all my might.  Over and over again. Unknowingly, I wandered off and drifted away from where Grandpa told me to stay. It got dark at the end of the day. Really, really dark-dark! I had no idea where Grandpa was. Forest noises haunted me. My young mind imagined all kinds of creepy things that were coming to get me.
I was lost. Very frightened. No idea where I was or how to find Grandpa. I blew that whistle for all I was worth! After what seemed an eternity, low and behold, in the distance I saw a lantern and the shadow of a big, burly man coming my way. It was Grandpa! I ran as fast as my terrified feet could fly, hugged and held on to him for a long time.
STEVIE WAS FOUND! NO LONGER LOST!
My friends, I do not like being lost. Not in the woods. Not on the highway. Not in an unfamiliar city. Not anywhere. My wife says my sense of direction is so pitiful I could get lost in the car on our driveway. There is more truth to that than fiction!    

• Lost is not my friend. Being found is!

I want to share the story of a young man in scripture who was lost and then found. Please read the narrative in Luke 15:11-32. Visualize this story of lost and found. This story told by Jesus is called The Prodigal Son. Prodigal means wasteful.
A young man asked his father for his inheritance. Dad is still alive, so what is up with that junior? The father gave his second son the money. Immediately, the misguided, greedy boy left home and went far away where he partied to sow his wild oats.  Spent his entire inheritance on wine, women and song. When false friends spent all his money, he ended up feeding pigs in a pig pen! The hogs were eating better than him!
Friendless. Financially broke. Emotionally destitute. Lamenting his situation, verse seventeen records a monumental, destiny changing phrase “when he came to his senses.”  When he woke up to his dire circumstances he turned toward home. He would not return as a son but as a servant.
Trudging up the road, dirty, filthy, smelling like a pig (not a kosher thing for a Jewish boy!) he saw his father coming to meet him. Before he would complete his repentance speech, his dad, full of compassion, ran to his smelly son and embraced him!
The wayward son confessed his sins. Father’s response was utterly amazing. He told his attendants to “quickly” do the following things,

• Put the best robe on him. Signifying he is a son, not a slave.
• Put the signet ring on his finger. The ring from dear old dad was a credit card. Really Dad, giving him money!
• Put sandals on his feet. Why? Sons wore shoes. Slaves were kept barefoot so they could not run away.
• Cook the fatted calf. Time to party. Why? “This son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found; they began to make merry.” Verse 24

Arriving back home, the elder brother was ticked off. Dad simply told him you have been with me all this time, but your brother, my son, who was lost has been found! That is why we are partying!
Every time I read this story, my eyes well up with tears of joy and spiritual chills course through me.  

• So, do you get it? Lost son. Found by a loving, restoring father.

Regularly in my restoration ministry I meet with lost folks. Lost in their relationship with God. Lost marriage and family relationships. Lost loved ones. Lost jobs. Lost finances. Lost dreams. Lost hopes. Lost, lost, lost needing to be found!
John Newton was a slave trader. He came to faith in Christ and wrote the most iconic, popular Christian hymn of all time Amazing Grace. Newton wrote “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost and now I am found, was blind but now I see.
Newton’s personal testimony: once lost, but found. Blind but seeing with the eye of faith.
Like John Newton, I, Steve Roll, once was lost. But now I am found. I was blind. But now I see. October 6, 1972 changed my life for eternity when this lost boy turned to the Savior and Jesus welcomed me home to His heart with the promise of eternal life in heaven! GLORY TO GOD!!!

• How about you my reader? Are you lost and need found? No matter how lost you are, God loves you and sent His only Son Jesus to save you. Open your heart to Him. Surrender your life. Receive the free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

• If you were once lost but now are found, rejoice in your salvation every single day.

Imagine what it was like for the wayward son, fresh out of a smelly pigpen to enjoy a feast of delicious food, a warm bath and lay his head on a down pillow that first night home. He probably said “Oh my, I was lost. Now I am found because my father loves me!”

• Jesus is a Savior who seeks and finds lost people.

Do you know someone who is spiritually lost? Share the Good News of Jesus Christ with them. Lead them to saving faith in the Savior.
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.” Luke 19:
A Word For Your Week: Jesus specializes in finding and saving lost souls.

​In our current culture there is a trending, popular phrase people use.
When you ask someone to do something for you many will reply “no worries”. In other words, don’t worry.  I got you covered. I will take care of you.
No worries. Thoughtful, nice gesture, especially when accompanied with a smile! The truth is people of the world like “no worries” because worldly folks have every reason to worry.
My dear grandmother Eplin who resides in heaven, used to call people who worry “worry warts!” As a youngster with a vivid imagination, when grandma would use that term, I imagined people with disgusting, yukky, puss-filled worry warts popping up all over their body!  Kind of a gross thought for a kid.
An insightful person said worry is like a rocking chair. Lots of motion, but you do not get anywhere.

• Jesus knew and knows that human beings (that includes you and me) are prone to worry.

 In Matthew 6:25-34 the Lord lays out truth about “no worries”. Please read and study the entire passage. I will highlight the truth Jesus taught us about not worrying.

• Jesus cares about what we care about. But the Son of God does not become anxious and worry like you and I are prone to do.

In our passage Jesus exhorts His followers numerous times to not worry. Translations are “take no thought “, “do not be anxious “, “ which one of you by being anxious” and “ why are you worrying?” Seems to me He is sending a message to you and me to have no worries!

• In verse 25 Jesus says do not worry about life, what you shall eat, drink or wear on your body. Isn’t life more important than clothing and stuff? Of course it is.

 

• In verse 26 Jesus says to check out the birds. They do not sow or reap crops. Have no barns. No Walmarts or Coscos for birds. Why? Because our Heavenly Father feeds them. How much more valuable are we than birds? Jesus Christ died on the Cross to save you and me, not the birds.

 

• In verse 27 which of us can add any length to our life by worrying? No brainer there.

 

• In verses 28-30 Jesus addresses clothing. Okay you clothes horses! Listen up. The Lord reminds us of the beauty of flowers in the fields. Even Solomon, the wealthiest man on earth, could not duplicate what God does. Jesus declares “O you men and women of little faith”. Quit. Stop. Cease worrying about what you are going to wear.

 

• In verses 31-32 Jesus say do not worry about what you shall drink, eat or wear. The Gentiles, those who do not follow Me, worry about all this stuff. Here is the kicker: Do not worry like the Gentiles. Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. Jesus knows what we need even before we ask! I like that!  

 

• In verse 33 Jesus declares the remedy for anxiety. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” Did you get it?  Jesus is saying your Heavenly Father knows what your need, will supply your needs, knows how to get what you need to you…….so stop worrying about your what you need!!!

 

• In verse 34 begins with therefore. When therefore shows up, look above to see what the therefore is there for! Simple. Do not be anxious about tomorrow. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Your heavenly Father who loves you and meets your needs today, will meet your days needs tomorrow! So, what are you worrying about? Especially tomorrow, next week, next month or next year?  

 

• Boom! Do Jesus’ words in this passage hit a bullseye in your heart like they do in mine? Steve, you, Steve, do not be anxious. Choose and refuse to worry.     

 

• Food, shelter, clothing and everything else. Jesus to Steve: no worries. Do not be anxious. I got you covered Steve

Think about it my friend. While on earth, Jesus, God’s Son, never worried about anything. Not once did He panic about life and slip into a worry coma! The disciples who worried a lot never asked the Lord if He was worried or what He was anxious about.
No worries for Jesus because His Father in heaven had everything under control.
My friends, worry is not our friend. Faith in Jesus Christ is the remedy for worry. He has us covered and will always meet our every need! So, why worry when Jesus says not to?

• DO NOT WORRY. TRUST THE LORD INSTEAD.

A Word For Your Week: “No worries” when our faith is in Jesus Christ.

​It is another day. Now what?
“So teach us to number our days so that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

• The point of this verse: Count your days and make your days count!

Friends, it is too easy to WONDER ABOUT OUR DAYS.  WORRY ABOUT OUR DAYS. WASTE OUR DAYS. What if we WALKED IN GOD’S WISDOM EACH DAY? Our days would be awesome and rewarding!! 
The words day and today are used hundreds of times in the Bible.
Our Creator took six days to make creation, ONE DAY AT A TIME. Scripture makes it plain that TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION. God provided heavenly bread for His people Israel ONE DAY AT A TIME. In Matthew 6:25-34 (read the whole passage) Jesus said the birds do not have food panties or storehouses. They are fed ONE DAY AT A TIME. In the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus told us to pray for “OUR DAILY BREAD.”
 

• When you and I are anxious about a day, we can miss the blessings of that day.

 

• It is short-sighted and bordering on silly not to live a day at a time because that is all God gives us! 

Please listen to me.  You and I can get caught up thinking about every day except the one we are in. Upcoming vacation days. Birthdays. Anniversaries. Graduations. Retirement. It is important to plan ahead. But what about today? Those other events may or may not happen. I just burst someone’s vacation bubble!
Our verse emphasizes making our day count by having a heart of wisdom. I like the idea of presenting my heart as a wise heart to God. Truth be old: I need God’s wisdom every day. How about you?
The day we are living in is the day to serve the Lord with all our heart, walk in His wisdom and tell others about His love.
How To Make Your Days Count

• Realize your day is a gift from God. Embrace the day. Rejoice in the day. Thank the Lord for the day He has given you to live for Him and be a blessing to others in His name.
• The future is made up of one day at a time. Not a week.  Not a month. Not a year. Not a decade One single day after one single day makes for a bright tomorrow!
• Each day has a 24-hour lifespan. Make the most of your day while it is called today.  
• Ask God to give you wisdom and understanding for the day (James 1:5-8). Desire and determine to live your day according to God’s Word in the Bible.
• Enjoy the moments during the day. Never let focusing on the next day or days rob you of the special moments that slip by while you are thinking about another day. You might something you cannot recapture!  
• Never let tomorrow steal today. Guard yourself today from the temptation to worry about tomorrow. Jesus said “Do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
• Share with others the blessings of the day you are living. Give God the glory for a good day in Him! 
• End your day thanking the Lord for your day. Then happily return it to Him. Before you drift off to dreamland, pray “Lord, I give my day back to You with gratitude and joy.”  
• Having counted your day and made it count, look forward to tomorrow’s day. Another day if the Lord is willing.

Fellow Christian, today is the day for you and me to live for God’s glory. To love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. Today is the day for you and me to be salt and light in our world. Today is the day to witness to lost souls.
Today is the day to rejoice in God’s goodness. Today is the day for us who know Him to look for Jesus to split the eastern sky and come back to take us home to heaven. What a glorious day that will be!!!!!!!
When you and I look back on the history of our lives, the many days and years we lived, will we be satisfied that we counted our days, one at a time, and made them count? I hope I will.

• A less stressful, healthy, peace-producing, satisfying way to enjoy life: LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME.

 

• How about today my friend?  What is your day going to be like today? You decide, no matter what happens, you will rejoice in the Lord and make your day count.

“This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
“But encourage one another day after day as long as it is still called TODAY, unless any of you be hardened by the deceitful of sin.” Hebrews 3:15
A Word For Your Week: Make the most of today because today matters.
 

​As I look over the American cultural landscape, there is an ominous, darkening cloud of disorder descending upon our country.

• Every single day “Breaking News” alerts us to another incident of disorder.

 I cannot speak for you. But I am deeply troubled by the misguided, misdirected attitude of many of our fellow citizens, and some who are not citizens, who believe disorder is the way to get what they want or what they think they are entitled to.  
Any nation state that does not respect, support and uphold law and order is a country doomed to self-destruction. Disorder sets the stage for demise from within. Willful defiance, disobedience, and disruption of law and order is a recipe for national implosion. 

• Disorder divides. Order unites.

Order ensures stability, security, safety and a sense of everything is going to be all right. Disorder on the other hand, creates an atmosphere of instability, insecurity, lack of safety and a sense of everything is falling apart.

• A spirit of disorder breeds confusion, chaos, division, hatred and violence.

Police officers rightfully arrest people for “disorderly conduct.” Why? Stuck on themselves and what they want to do, the offender’s disorderly behavior disrupts and endangers an orderly, peaceful, safe society.  

• What some people call civil disobedience can turn into uncivil disobedience in a hurry.

If you do not think order matters, observe, or better yet, attend a “peaceful protest” that has turned into a riot. Then review how you feel about order when you are personally exposed to and threatened by the ugliness and dangers of human disorder. You will be terrified by the words and actions of disorderly, spiteful, hateful, violent people who leave destruction behind in the wake of disorder for good, respectful citizens to clean up and pay for.

• How curious it is that some politicians are clamoring for unity without calling for order.

 

• The answer to disorder is order. Order is found in the Bible.

God is a God of order. From cover to cover, the Bible is a book of order, God’s order.
Our Sovereign Creator, who is purposeful and orderly, laid out His plan for our life in His holy word.  God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will and plan is good because He is good! The plans the Lord has for us (Jeremiah 29:11-13) are intended to bless us in every area of life. When you and I line up our lives with the order we find in Scripture, life is awesome and fulfilling, now and for eternity.
James 3:13-18 has something especially important to say to us about wisdom and order.
“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his good deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, and demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
Read these verses a few times. Let the truth sink in. Simply put: Disorder and every evil thing springs from bitter, jealous, arrogant hearts filled with selfish ambition. Disorderly behavior is based on lies against the truth. James calls this behavior earthly, natural (of man) and demonic. Certainly not wise.
In contrast, a lifestyle based on truth from above (God’s wisdom) produces righteous fruit… purity, peacefulness, gentleness, reasonableness, mercy, steadfastness and is not hypocritical. Life will be one of order. That is the kind of life I want to live. 
If you and I want to be wise and full of understanding, ask for wisdom (see James 1:5). God will grant it. Then walk in it by displaying good behavior which I believe is orderly, not disorderly.
It is a no brainer folks. If each of us would order our lives according to God’s order, our personal, family, friendships, business, ministry and national life would be blessed and prosper!
There is no question that Americans must seek “wisdom from above” if we are to survive as a republic founded on Judeo/Christian principles.
Bottom line: Is our nation going to be a nation of law and order or unlawfulness and disorder?
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.  Psalms 33:12
A Word For Your Week: Order your life according to the order outlined in God’s Word.
 
 

​It is election day in America.
 
Our citizens head to the polls to cast votes for their preferred candidates to lead our nation. Voters are hopeful their choice will prevail and bring stability, security, prosperity and peace to our nation.
 
Breaking News alerts will soon announce who won what.
 
 Here is a Breaking News ALERT you will not find on any news/media outlets: OUR GOD REIGNS!
 
God is not Republican or Democrat. He is INDEPENDENT!
 
GOD REIGNS!!! No matter who resides in the White House, God sits on His throne in heaven!
 
“God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.” Psalm 47:8
 
Almighty God rules over the affairs of men and nations. He oversees His Kingdom and universe. He cast His vote for you, me and all of humanity when He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die on a Cross to save us from our sins. Praise God for this eternal truth!
 
You and I would agree these are perilous and challenging days. Bible believing, compassionate Christians everywhere are appropriately concerned about worldwide health pandemics and the hellish evil the devil has unmercifully unleashed upon nations, including the United States of America.
 

• Our world is on fire with hatred for fellow human beings. A spirit of fear, destruction and death roams the earth looking for victims to devour.

 
Fueled by fear, the worldwide war on terror and racial/ethnic tensions have exploded into a fiery fury of panic that is paralyzing and petrifying people on every continent.  News alert after alert has to do with what evil men are doing to fellow human beings.
 
The news is not good. People across the globe wonder if man will soon annihilate himself in a World War III scenario that is looming on the horizon of the human experience.
 
As virulent viruses multiply, rockets are flying and people are dying, is there any hope? Is there anywhere to turn for help in this time of trouble? Yes, there is. But it is not in the direction of the bad news of the news media.
 
Ø  You and I find help and encouragement in discouraging times from the Good News found in the Word of God.
 
With unmistakable clarity and an uplifting word of assurance, our scripture declares: GOD REIGNS AND HE IS AT HOME ON HIS HOLY THRONE!
 
According to Webster reign means “to possess or exercise sovereign power, to be predominant or prevalent, to rule.” The subject of our word reigns is God. The Almighty One is the One who possesses and exercises sovereign power that no man or nation can overrule.
 
No earthly clan of man, political party or any contingent of demons from hell can cross God’s border to ransack His Kingdom or kidnap His children. He is holy. His throne is holy. Nothing unholy can unseat His holiness.
 
In times of terror and crisis, it is all too easy to think that man rules. Especially when evil men cross nation’s borders and slaughter innocent people. It happened in the Old Testament more than once.
 
In Judges 6-8 the Midianites crossed Israel’s borders, devastated the people’s land and seemed to be in charge. They did not have the last word. God raised up Gideon as his deliverer. The evil Midianites were destroyed. Three hundred chosen warriors under “the valiant warrior’s” leadership slew 120,000 Midianites! Gideon gave God the glory for the miraculous victory over the menacing Midianites.
 

• God reigned and reined in the evil Midianites.  

 
Take heart Christian in these troubling times. Man does not rule over the affairs of men. God who made man does. He has a redemptive plan that is right on schedule. I have read the Book from cover to cover. As the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 21:6), God has the first and last word. That means He reigns! The people who acknowledge His Lordship will reign with Him forever!
 
If your heart is tempted to grow faint these last days, stir up your faith in the God who reigns.
 

• GOD is our Rock                                                        Psalm 31:4
• GOD is our Refuge                                                     Psalm 46:1
• GOD is our Strength                                                   Psalm 73:25-26          
• GOD is our Deliverer                                                 Psalm 68:19-21
• GOD is our Rescuer                                                   Psalm 35:17   
• GOD is our Hiding Place                                            Psalm 25:20
• GOD is our Fortress                                                   II Samuel 22:2-3        
• GOD is our Protector                                                  Exodus 14:14
• GOD is our Shield                                                      Proverbs 30:5
• GOD is our Defense                                                    Psalm 5:11,
• JESUS CHRIST is our Spiritual Foundation              I Corinthians 3:11
• JESUS CHRIST is our Savior                                    John 3:16
• JESUS CHRIST is Lord                                             Romans 10:9
• JESUS CHRIST is our Peace.                                    John 14:27
• JESUS CHRIST is our joy!                                         John 16:22

 
Ø  And most importantly of all JESUS CHRIST is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! (Revelation 19:11-16). Look again at what Paul says every human being will do one day.
 
“Therefore, God also highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”                                Philippians 2:9-11
 
Men’s knees will bow, not to men, but to Jesus Christ!
 

• My fellow Christian, rise up with great faith. Trust wholeheartedly in the God who reigns. God has always been in charge. The temporary rein of terror does not overthrow the permanent reign of God and His goodness to men. 

 
Pray for our lost, hurting, deceived world. Pray for protection of the innocent. Pray for wisdom for our world’s leaders. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). Remember that Jesus said all these things would happen (Matthew 24:1-14) before He returns for the church.
 
Ø  Thank you Heavenly Father that you rule and reign over our affairs!
 
“The Lord will reign forever, Thy God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!”               
                                                                                                            Psalm 146:10
 
“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice! Let the many islands be glad.” Psalm 97:2
 
A Word For Your Week: Stand strong as you stand alongside the GOD WHO REIGNS!

You will not receive from me a political dissertation or personal endorsement of a particular candidate or political party. But I do want to share my heart concerning the future of the next generations that you and I will leave behind when we are gone.
Like it or not, my day will come when I pass life’s baton to my loved ones who will run their race.  
While still here running my race (not as fast as I used to!), I consider myself to be very blessed by the Lord. He has graciously given me and Jo Ann an adult son, daughter, daughter-in-law and son-in-law. I love my “adult kids” with all my Daddy’s heart. I desire God’s best for their lives in every way. In addition, my gray hair has been rewarded with four awesome Roll grandchildren, all under fourteen years of age.   
My family of ten visited us this past weekend. Jo Ann and I are in recovery mode in the aftermath of the kid tornado that hit our home! A bit tired, certainly. Overjoyed having them here, priceless!
 Observing them play with carefree innocence set me to thinking about how our country is destroying innocence. My children’s minds are morally pure. What has happened to moral purity across America? Their innocent, joyful laughter and happy squeals come from uncorrupted hearts. Why is the United States such a sad, sorrowful, depressed, despairing society?
My grandkids uncalculated, unadulterated, uninhibited spontaneity to just enjoy being a kid warms my heart!  I see in each of them untapped, God-given potential. Fearfully and wonderfully made, each pint-sized Roll is precious in their Creator’s sight, highly valued, unique, a one-of-a kind, and significant individual.

• How is it that the American people have so little respect for human life and no idea how to be the person God created them to be and be happy about it?

 My youngest Roll descendants play with each other and get along (most of the time!). Occasional skirmishes and meltdowns are part of the package. How sad that our society is divided by prejudice, bigotry, ignorance, intolerance and hatred.

• To our disgrace, Americans’ do not know how to dream, imagine, play, work, worship, live or succeed together.    
• Children celebrate life. Multitudes of our citizens have lost sight of celebrating life and the One who gives life for now and eternity.

As a Christian, I am deeply concerned and troubled about the moral climate of our culture.
The moral cover we used to have over our nation is all but non-existent. Nationally, America once recognized, revered and respected God’s sovereignty and acknowledged the Lordship of His only Son Jesus Christ. Our forefathers established our republic on Judeo/Christian principles found in God’s Word the Bible.  Faith and obedience to the God of the Bible mattered more than anything else.

• In the past we have been a blessed nation because God blesses nations who call Him Lord.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:12   

• This election matters.

Solomon, the wisdom writer, gives us these sober, soul-searching words in Proverbs 13:22.
“The good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.”
According to God’s Word, a good, godly man or woman leaves his offspring an inheritance. I believe the inheritance is much more than money or material possessions. Biblical inheritance is also a legacy of holiness, righteousness, morality and faith. The inheritance our descendants need most from you and me is how to love and walk with God by faith, to glorify His holy name, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

• This election is a legacy election.

More than ever before in our nation’s history, your and my vote will set in motion what kind of life our offspring will be allowed to pursue. This is what I am chewing on and praying about before November 5th rolls around.
 What kind of moral cover and spiritual life will our kids and grandkids have? Will they be able to pursue life, liberty and happiness as our founders declared? Will they be able to worship God freely and bless others in His name?
This pivotal election boils down to choices. Will you and I choose to leave our loved ones a legacy of purity or perversion? Morality or immorality? Truth or lies?  Love or hatred? Respect or disrespect? Honor or dishonor? Civility or chaos? Peace or violence? Character or corruption? Order or disorder? Stability or instability? Security or insecurity? Generosity or greed? Unity or division? Acceptance or rejection? Inclusion or exclusion? Edifying speech or filthy, profane demeaning words? Trust or distrust? Selflessness or narcissism? Honor or dishonor?

• My children and grandchildren matter. Their future in America matters.

My friends, my fellow Christians, what in the world are we passing on to our offspring? What kind of inheritance are we leaving them? What will America look like during their lifetime?
As you head to the polling place to cast your vote on November 5th, pray for God’s wisdom and take a picture of your kids and grandkids with you. Before you check a box on the ballot, think about your descendants and the inheritance you will be handing off to them.
Dads, Moms and grandparents, our children and grandchildren are watching us like a hawk.  Bless their hearts. They are depending on you and me to leave them a righteous legacy that matters.
This election matters! It really does.
“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously, and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5
A Word For Your Week: Vote for your children’s and grandchildren’s future on November 5th.

​Make no mistake about it: deceivers, liars, false witnesses, truth twisters and fact skewers abound. These last days, the spirit of deception is alive and well worldwide.
To deceive means “to be false, ensnare, cheat, to cause or to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid, a false impression.”  Synonyms include “mislead, delude, fool, beguile.” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary). 
Let’s face it and be honest:  you and I can be very gullible!
To my embarrassment, I have been duped in the past and so have you. It is amazing how we can be tricked and deceived into believing something that is not true. It is so patently human to swallow hook, line and sinker what this world is fishing for. Deception always presents itself with a juicy, wiggly worm that beckons unwary individuals to take the bait.
Do you catch yourself wondering what is true and false today? Truth is presented as falsehood, and what is false is declared to be true. Deception produces a spirit of confusion. A prime objective of deception is to make good look evil, and evil look good. Our world today, including our nation, has little or no idea what is true, right, pure and holy.
Deception is subtle and lethal.   
The source of deception is Satan. The devil is the chief deceiver. His dastardly work of deception was conceived in the Garden of Eden. The wily, wicked serpent, Satan, deceived Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:2-7, II Corinthians 11:3). Caving to deception, our first parents were booted out of Paradise, separated from God, and sin and death infected the human race.
Today, Satan’s deceived, demonic minions, from the pit of hell, work tirelessly to peddle lies, falsehood and outright untruth to naïve, vulnerable, unsuspecting people who let their guard down.
Question: Do you believe everything you see, hear or read? Do you buy without questioning whatever a popular, high-profile public figure sells? Are you easily sucked in to ideas, agendas, and philosophies that are not based on truth? Are you duped by what is “trending” at the time?
The preventative to deception is discernment.
To discern means “to separate, distinguish between, to discriminate, to detect, to cut through, to make certain.” Synonyms include “perception, insight, acumen.” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary).
Writing to his son, Solomon wrote in Proverbs 1:1-7 to seek “wisdom, instruction, understanding, discernment, knowledge, discretion, wise counsel, wise behavior, righteousness, justice, equity and to fear the Lord which is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.” Solomon’s son, like you and me, to be wise in life, would definitely need discernment and discretion to avoid deception.
Jesus was concerned that His followers discern the times.
Speaking to a Jewish crowd and their religious leaders who were testing Him, Jesus asked “Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:3b). Paraphrase: you guys and gals are good at discerning the seasons. But not at discerning and understanding the signs of the time you live in.
That could be us too, huh?
Christ followers must be discerning today. Technology invades you and me with massive amounts of information at lightning speed. Deception is interwoven into the fabric of much information. You and I are all but forced to make many decisions on a daily basis as what to believe or not believe.
 God’s people have to be discerning to not be deceived in this day of deception. When we seek and receive the Lord’s discernment, we will walk with confident, overcoming by faith in His wisdom. The way is always clear when we pursue and practice God’s Word in the Bible.
Discernment Do’s And Don’ts

• Do ask God for discernment. If you ask for it, He will give it. Our Heavenly Father’s good, acceptable, and perfect will is for you and me to be discerning, not deceived. Trust Him to help you see clearly through deception.
• Do “fact check” what you hear, see and read with Scripture. If you cannot verify the truth of something based on the absolute truth revealed in the Bible, reject it as false.
• Do surround yourself with a few mature, seasoned Christians who will help you discern good from evil. Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). It is wise and prudent to fellowship with others who battle deception too.
• Do be discerning at church. Yes, deception happens in some segments of the body of Christ. Search the Scripture for yourself when you hear preaching/teaching that is suspect.
• Do not be duped by crowds. Just because a choreographed crowd of loud, truth-blinded people shouts deception, do not believe it. An emotionally whipped up, hysterical mob shouted down Pilate, demanding that Jesus, the Son of God, be crucified, even though Pilate declared Him innocent. Majorities are often dead wrong.
• Do not follow an agenda-crazed crowd that has lost its way. Make your own decisions based on sound, biblical discernment. Live your life according to God’s Word, not public opinion.  
• Do not be deceived by “Breaking News”. Breaking does not guarantee accuracy or truthfulness.  Deception is a crafty tool the devil uses through mass media to mislead non-thinking people. Polished, journalistic personalities (even those you like) may not always be merchants of truth.  
• Do not believe something just because it is posted on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat etc. A social media platform doesn’t guarantee something is automatically true.  Most often, it is the opposite. Be very careful what you “Like” and what you “Comment “on regarding social media sites.
• Do not be led astray by surveys, opinion polls and opinion editorials. Deceivers love to get into your head to make you believe something that is always skewed in some way.

Personal Note:  Election Day is fast approaching. Please seek discernment from God as to the votes you will cast. Your and my choices can affect the direction of our nation for decades.
Deception or discernment is up to you.    
“But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their senses to discern good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14
A Word For Your Week: Be discerning then you won’t be deceived. 

​The heat was on the New Testament Church. Jesus’ followers were under fire for their faith.
 
So, the church collapsed. Wrong!!!
 
Our word for this week gives me spiritual goose bumps. I want to jump and shout: GO CHURCH!
 
 And when they had summoned them, they commanded then not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:18-20
 
When our first brothers and sisters in Christ were pressured to compromise their convictions and deny the name of Christ, they refused. Their conscience was clear. No threats tempered their passionate testimony. They didn’t dance with the devil. They didn’t retreat from sinful men. They stood up for their Lord and Savior…boldly, courageously, without apology.
 
In today’s vernacular they “stuck it” to the anti-Christian establishment. Christ’s disciples could sleep peacefully at night because during the day they did not stray from what they believed. Instead of caving in to the pressures, they dug in and pressed back in the name of Jesus. GO CHURCH! 

• The New Testament Christians had a clear conscience based on Christ-centered convictions. They were Christ-conscious concerning their creed and conduct. Not once did they give ground to Satan’s crowd.

 
So, how about you and me….professing Christians in 2024?
 
 Believers in Christ are surrounded by ungodly men and women who seek openly and unashamedly, through mockery, intimidation, marginalization and persecution to erase the name of Jesus Christ from our culture.
 
Paul describes many in our day. “But the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times, some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience s with a branding iron.” I Timothy 4:1-2.  
Did you catch the words hypocrisy, deceitful spirits, liars and seared conscience? What a precise word picture for the day in which you and I live.
 
The word conscience according to Webster means “the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one’s own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good.” A seared conscience is one that no longer senses, feels, or is sensitive to good and evil, right and wrong. Anything goes with people with a seared conscience…and they are dangerous.    

• Clear or seared conscience…which do you have in these critical times?

 
Decisions determine destiny. Choices produce consequences. Character counts. And conscience matters.
 
My heart is heavy concerning the upcoming election November 5th. Choices and decisions will be made. I wonder if selections will be made based upon convictions and conscience, or something else. Will confessing Christian people cast their votes according to their belief and trust in the person of Jesus Christ and the principles of truth He taught in the Bible?  
 
 You and I can become conflicted when our character is compromised. Our conscience becomes confused when we say we believe one way and behave another. Anyone can espouse convictions. It takes people with character to live their convictions. And uncompromised character produces a clear conscience that we can live with.
 
As for me, a clear conscience matters. I will answer to God for my decisions. I must also answer to myself and the people I love and care for. My conscience is clear: I am going to stand up boldly for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, no matter what the cost.
 
On November 5th Christians have an opportunity, and responsibility, to cast their vote based on character, convictions and conscience. I am going to the polling place with a clear conscience. I will leave the same way.   How about you?  
           
Fellow Christian: never stop witnessing boldly of what Jesus has done for you. Don’t compromise your biblical convictions for anyone or anything. Do what is right in the sight of the Lord. Keep your conscience clear.

• Conscience matters. GO CHURCH!

 
“But holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.” I Timothy 3:9
 
“For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced the He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” II Timothy 1:12
 
A Word For Your Word: Take your Christian convictions with you to the ballot box and vote your conscience on November 5

​Our culture is confused about what matters most in life.
 I believe what we choose to believe is important.  

• CONVICTIONS MATTER.

A conviction is something of which I am convinced. Webster defines conviction as “a strong persuasion or belief, the state of being convinced, certain.”
In our scripture for this week Paul, a Christian serving God in a pagan, heathen, anti-Christian world, was personally persuaded, certain, absolutely convinced, that Jesus Christ was the answer to life.
“For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” II Timothy 1:12
Under daily pressure to conform to a secular culture, Paul suffered for Christ and was not ashamed. Why? Because he was convinced (conviction matters) that the Lord would guard, keep safe his life which Paul had entrusted to His Lord and Savior.
Take note of the words of commitment Paul uses: “not ashamed”, “know”, “believed”, “convinced” and “entrusted”. No compromise of convictions for Paul!
The gospel trailblazer of the New Testament church was fully convinced that Jesus was the truth, the only truth. Paul was persuaded that the one and only Son of the Living God who died on a cross and rose again to save us from our sins can be trusted to keep His Word to His followers up to the very last day.

• CONVICTIONS MATTER.

As a devoted, sincere, certainly imperfect, wholehearted follower of Jesus Christ, I am deeply concerned and alarmed that many professing Christians, unlike Paul, are compromising biblical convictions because of cultural pressure to erase Judeo-Christian values and traditions from the fabric of our nation.
It is incredible to me and troubles my heart greatly that some Christians are now declaring as acceptable values, beliefs and behaviors that are unacceptable in the Bible, the Word of God.

• Is it wise for you and me to compromise what Jesus Christ shed His precious blood for?

Thoughts About Convictions

• Everyone is convinced about something. Someone said the trouble with a half-truth is that you can get ahold of the wrong half!
• Convictions are the building blocks of character and conduct. What you and I believe defines who we are and influences how we behave.
• A person without convictions is a man or woman without a life compass. Convictions are an anchor for our souls. People without Christian convictions are morally adrift on the sea of life.
• Our morally imploding culture pressures Christians to compromise their convictions to conform to an anti-Christian worldview.
• You and I choose convictions that are biblically correct or culturally, politically correct.
• Convictions drive commitment. What convictions are you committed to? What convictions motivate you to be who you are and do what you do?
• Core convictions based on God’s Word are non-negotiable. You, I nor anyone else gets to change the Word of the Living God. We are cursed if we attempt to detract or add to the truth found in the Bible (Revelation 22:18-19). God blesses those who believe in the Bible and stand up with unwavering faith to witness for Jesus Christ.

 

• CONVICTIONS MATTER.

I ask myself how does a Christian get to a place where man’s opinion, political polls, agenda pushing pundits, popular personalities and celebrities overrule personal convictions?
I am scratching my head and asking the Holy Spirit to console the grief in my heart as to why so many of my professed brothers and sisters in Christ are compromising convictions, selling out to secular society. And for what? Man’s approval? Satan’s lies?
If you are a professing Christian who compromises biblical convictions, I believe you are crucifying Christ again.
I know what my core Christian convictions are. I have held them for fifty-two years and have not altered, adjusted or abandoned them. I never will. Like Paul, I am not ashamed of Jesus and my Christian faith. I will stand boldly for truth and righteousness no matter what cultural pressure tries to do to get me to compromise what I believe.
I know the Lord is taking care of business on my behalf. I am thankful for His faithfulness to me every single day of my life.
My friend, what do you believe? What are your core convictions? Why do you believe what you believe? Are you willing to take a stand for what you believe? Are you willing to defend your faith and values? At any price? Or have you compromised convictions that you say you believe in? Are you waffling with God’s holy Word? Sitting on the fence regarding your faith?
A word from me regarding election of leaders in America.
I love my country. Leadership will dictate our future. Please take time and make the effort to check out the convictions of candidates.
What about their personal convictions, character and conduct? Does their belief and behavior line up with your personal core convictions based on the Bible? Listen very carefully to their words. More importantly, research their lives and track records.
Why would you even consider voting for someone to lead our nation whose convictions are contrary to Christian truth and principles?
Please think about it. If believers in Christ continue to compromise convictions, soon the America you and I have lived in will be unrecognizable. Are you sure you want your children and grandchildren to live in a morally rudderless culture that openly rejects Jesus Christ and Christian values, purposely brainwashing the impressionable minds of your loved ones with anti-Christian propaganda?

• Never, ever compromise your faith.

“And so having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place, that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He should be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:22-23
A Word For Your Week: Choose uncompromising convictions for the cause of Christ.

​Character.
 
What do you think of when you think of character? How important is a person’s character to you?
 
In Romans 5:1-5, Paul addressed a process that produces “proven character.”  
 
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character, and proven character, hope;” Romans 5:3-4
 

• Character is who a person is. Character that is proven is complete, whole, mature, dependable and can be counted on in the heat of life’s battles.

 
Someone remarked “The true measure of a man is the height of his ideals, the breadth of his sympathy, the depth of his convictions, and the length of his patience.” That sounds like a man of proven character, character that passes life’s many tests and challenges.
 
America is experiencing a character crisis in all walks of life.
 

• “Characters” who lack character abound, while men and women with “proven character” are hard to be found.

 
 From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible has a lot to say about character.
 
I encourage you to take your Bible concordance and study the word character and related words. Look closely at the lives of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 who not only believed and obeyed God, but they behaved in a godly manner, exhibiting proven character.
 
Comments Concerning Character
 

• “Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.” Phillips Brooks
•  “Character is what a man is when he is in the dark.” D.L. Moody
• People determine your character by what you stand for, fall for and lie for.
• Live your life in such a way that when people tell lies about you, no one will believe them.
• Ability can take you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.
• It is better to be short on cash than short on character.
• A man’s message will always be heard in the context of his character.
• Character is the sum total of what a man has after he has won all; and it is the sole thing left after he has lost it all!
• The first great business on earth is the sanctification of my own soul.” Henry Martyn

 
On Tuesday November 5th, Americans head to the polls to select our elected leaders.
 

• Elections are important. Especially this one.

 
 I believe men and women should serve because of their character. Party affiliation, platform planks, popularity, personal charisma, popularity, pollster’s opinions, and media darlings all pale in significance to the godly, proven character we must have in our leaders if we expect God to bless America once again.
 
As a Christian, who loves his nation and is deeply concerned about where we are and where we are headed, I will be voting according to my conscience and convictions. My belief and values are determined by God’s Word found in the Bible. Holiness not hype, purity not policy, righteousness not rhetoric, morality not tolerance of immorality, conviction not compromise, truth not half-truths will direct my decisions in the polling place. In other words, I will be voting for candidates with proven character.
 
CHARACTER COUNTS. Who a person is matters.
 
God is always looking for men and women who exhibit godly, proven character. So should you and I. Christ-like character is the highest form of “proven character”. 
 
Jesus proved His character when He allowed sinful men to nail Him to a cruel cross where He shed His blood. It took character for God’s only Son to say as He looked on the mocking crowd who reveled in His suffering “Father, forgive them.”(Luke 23:34).
 

• Thank you Lord Jesus for proven character that people who profess to be Christians can have in You. 

 
On November 5th, I will vote for candidates based on their personal character. This is my list for evaluating the candidates. 
 
Character Checklist For Candidates
 
ü  Do they fear, love God and obey His Word as revealed in the Bible?
ü  Do they choose, support and protect life from the womb to the tomb?
ü  Do they stand up for moral decency and oppose sexual immorality?
ü  Are they morally faithful to their spouses?
ü  Do they stand by their convictions no matter what the cost?
ü  Do they tell the truth when truth is not popular or expedient?
ü  Are they the same person in private that they profess to be in public?
ü  Can they be trusted with other people’s money?
ü  Do they respect and uphold rightful authority?
ü  Do they protect those who cannot protect themselves?
ü  Will they put biblical correctness over political correctness?
ü  Would the people who know them best say they are honest and integrity minded?
 
“Characters” or character…which counts most to you? You and I get to choose who will lead our land, making destiny determining decisions that will affect us, our children and our grandchildren for generations to come.
           
Draw up your own candidate character checklist. Pray over it. Ask God who you should vote for. Then do not fail to vote on the 5th of November.
           
·      May God be merciful to the United States of America in the days ahead.
 
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen for His own inheritance.”                                                                                             Psalm 33:12
 
A Word For Your Week: Character counts. Make your vote count on November 5th by voting in men and women with proven character.