President Biden delivered his State of the Union address Thursday night, speaking for sixty-eight minutes and repeatedly interacting with the gathered members of Congress in a way that's been described as somewhere between "fiery" and "feisty."

Headlines bombard us with news about the devastation in Gaza—the staggering death toll, the increasing war and bloodshed, the innocent lives lost. People on both sides cry for an end to the violence and the pain. ? As Christians, we hear the news, and our hearts fill with compassion and anguish. Why is this happening? Why are people so eager to fight—and die—over this one small section of land?Gaza, also called the Gaza Strip, is a thin piece of land of about 140 square miles located between Israel and Egypt. Roughly 2.3 million Palestinians live there, and it is a Palestinian territory. It is situated on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, with Egypt on its southwest and Israel on its east and north.However, there is longtime animosity between Israel and Palestine. In 1947, the United Nations divided Palestine into an Arab and a Jewish state. This was to accommodate a post-World War Two desire for a Jewish homeland, but it came against the will of the local Arab population.On October 7, 2023, the Islamic militant group Hamas killed more than a thousand people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage in the deadliest attack in Israel's history. Israel immediately declared war on Hamas, and as of this writing, more than 30,000 people have been killed.Beyond a territory for present-day Palestine, the land is much desired by both groups. But there is also much biblical importance and history surrounding Gaza. Here are five biblical reasons by Gaza is important.Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/pawel.gaul

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-24-2024Romans 11:33-36Introduction:? A. A Biblical Interpretation before a Practical Application.? Chapters 9-11 of the Book of Romans make up what is called a Parenthetical. An insertion that acts as an explanation of additional information within the context.? 1. These chapters deal with the Nation of Israel instead of the individual.? Before these chapters, Paul has been dealing with the salvation of men or the lack there of, but chapters 9-11 deal with the Nation of Israel and their relationship to God.? 2. Chapters 9-11 all begin with the? Nation of Israel and end with the Nation of Israel. Chapter 9 shows Israel's Past; Chapter 10 shows Israel's Present; Chapter 11 shows Israel's Prophecy.? 3. Israel was and is God's chosen nation!? These chapters explain what Israel did in? chapter 9 (Rejection of their Messiah), what God is now doing with Israel in Chapter 10 (Salvation to the individual Jews who accept Christ Jesus), and Chapter 11 shows the future of the Nation? (Israel's Repentance and Return to their Messiah).? B. Paul ends this parenthetical trilogy of chapters, 9-11,? with a doxology. “Doxology,” in the Ancient Greek language is compound word:? from? δόξα,? doxa, "glory" and -λογία, -logia, "saying” or “word."? C. God is not done with Israel.? At the end of Jacob's Trouble, also called the Tribulation Period, Israel as a nation will look upon Him whom they have pierced and nationally return to their Messiah.? Zechariah 12:8-10? In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them. (9) And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (10) And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.? Romans 11:25-27? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (26) And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (27) For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.? D. That is the interpretation. Chapter 11:33-36 is Israel's guarantee.? God knows what He is doing! God loves Israel and He will restore the nation back to Himself.? E. I will give three types? of wisdom found in the Bible before I look at this doxology.? 1. Worldly Wisdom:? things that we learn over the years. We gain knowledge and then learn how to apply it rightly. This worldly wisdom can be learned or experiential.? a) Learned wisdom.? It is the wise individual who seeks counsel and advice. It is a wise individual who learns from those who have already learned. When you become “know it all,” you become a foolish individual.? b) Experiential wisdom.? Though learned wisdom is the simplest way to learn, often experience is the best teacher.? 2. Spiritual Wisdom:? spiritual knowledge rightly applied. Spiritual wisdom comes from God! It can be taught by the people of God, or it can be taught by the Word of God.? a. The First Mention of wisdom in the Bible:? Exodus 28:3? And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom? I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.? b. The “spirit of wisdom” comes from God. James 1:5? If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.? 3. God's Wisdom:? The wisdom of God is an all know or omniscient wisdom. God knows all things and there are some things that? only God knows and can only be gotten from Him.? The Bible declares? that God's wisdom in infinite:? Psalms 147:5? Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.? F. Wisdom defined:? accumulated knowledge or enlightenment , the trait of utilizing knowledge and experience with common sense and insight, the quality of being prudent and sensible.? (By my definition, wisdom is the right application of or understanding of how to use knowledge.)? G. One of the attributes of God is that of omniscience.? This is means “omni” or “all” and “science” or “knowledge.” The state of having infinite knowledge. As Dr. B. R. Lakin so put it, “Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?” God knows everything about everything!? H. There is a difference between having knowledge and having wisdom.? Many men of our times have had great intellect, extensive education, and yet have died without Christ! That is the most foolish thing that I can think of. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God!” Men like Confucius who have left behind a legacy of worldly wisdom have denied Christ, died lost, and are in hell today.? J. God not only has all knowledge, but He also has all wisdom!? God's knowledge and wisdom are far above that of the smartest and wisest of all men.? Isaiah 55:9? For? as? the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.? (Notice the analogy here: “as the heavens are higher than the earth.”)? K. Verse 36. Now for the application.? If God takes care of His elect nation that rejected Christ Jesus, how much the more will He take care of His children who have placed their trust in Him! I think it important that we? understand God's wisdom as we are taught biblically to trust Him in relationship to our circumstances and needs.? 1. Our Salvation is of Him -? John 6:35? And Jesus said unto them,? I am? the bread of life: he that? cometh to me? shall never hunger; and he that? believeth on me? shall never thirst. (Salvation is an act of God but it is also a choice of the individual!)? Matthew 11:28-30? Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,? and I will give you rest.? (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:? and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.? 2.? Our Circumstances are through Him - Proverbs 3:5-6? Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. ? (6)? In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.? (We are often confused, humanly speaking, by the things that happen in our lives that we cannot control. Yet, the Bible is clear that we are to trust completely when we do not understand.)? Job 23:10-12? But he? knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (11) My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. (12) Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.? Matthew 6:31-34? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ? (32)? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. ? (33)? But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ? (34)? Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.? (In times of uncertainty, God wants our priority to be Him, not our temporal needs. He has assured us that He knows what we need and will supply them. God wants our unwavering faith to be inn Him as He controls our circumstances.)? 3. Our Future is to Him? -? 1 John 3:1-2? Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.? Conclusion:? No matter what comes, the wisdom of God is our guarantee that all will work together for good to those of us who love Him and, in the end all will be well.? 1. The Wisdom Of God Penned Down In The Bible.? 2. The Wisdom Of God Previewed In Creation.? 3. The Wisdom Of God Personified In Jesus Christ.? 4. The Wisdom Of God Performed In Salvation.? 5. The Wisdom Of God Personalized In Our Justification.? 6. The Wisdom Of God Perfected In Our Eternity.

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-24-2024Psalm 119:97-104? Introduction:? A. Psalm 119 contains 176 verses with 22 stanzas and 8 verses per stanza with each verse in a stanza beginning with the corresponding letter of the Hebrew alphabet. An acrostic.? B. Tonight, I want to look at the 13th? stanza, verses 97-104, and the Hebrew letter MEM.? 1. This letter MEM has two different forms – the regular letter? מ, which is open at the bottom? and the special final letter? ם, which is closed. I wanted to mention this without spending a lot of time on it. We are not here tonight to learn the Hebrew language. We are here to convey a simple truth.? 2. The regular MEM? מ, represents everything that we understand while the special letter MEM? ם, represents everything that we do not comprehend.? 3. In Genesis, chapter 1, we find both uses of MEM in one verse.? In the story of the Creation, the text mentions that God separated the waters above the firmament and below it. The first? MEM? represents the waters above the firmament, which we and the second? MEM? the waters below the firmament. Therefore, this letter is connected to the element of water.? Genesis 1:7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.? 4. God made a division between the waters above the firmament, which we can see, and the waters below the firmament which we can only see that which is above ground with the water underground not seen.? 5. There are parts of the Bible that we know and understand. There are spiritual truths found in the Bible that are later grasped through continuation of study of the Scriptures.? 6. The numerical value of MEM is 40, an important number in the Bible as it signifies ripeness and maturity.? a) The life of Moses was split into three segments of 40 years. Each segment of 40 was a stage of development in his life and ministry.? b) The rains of the Great Flood lasted for 40 days.? c) Moses stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days to receive the Law.? d) Jonah the prophet told the people of Ninveh that they had 40 days to repent.? e) The Children of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years.? f) The LORD Jesus fasted 40 days before the Mount of Temptation.? C. MEM represents water. In this portion of the 119th? Psalm, I want to look at the Word of God in relationship to our spiritual understanding. Many of God's people have only head knowledge of God's Word but, in life, the Word of God has little practical use. Putting the Word of God into practice, especially in decision making.? D. In your Bible, water represents the Word of God.? Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,? John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.? John 4:10-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (11) The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? (12) Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? (13) Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: (14) But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.? E. The common thread in these 8 verses is learning.? Proverbs 4:5-7 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. (6) Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. (7) Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.? 1. Verse 97. Knowledge. “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” The motivation for growing in God's Word is found in this verse. There are two aspects vital to our learning:? a. Love. “O how love I thy law! The words “O how” are exclamatory. This is a strong statement exemplifying the strength of “love I thy law!” Though punctuation is not a part of the actual text, the exclamation point at the end of the statement agrees with the wording. We will never gain knowledge of the Word of God unless we love the Word of God.? Job 23:11-12 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. (12) Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.? ? b. Meditation. “It is my meditation all the day.” Another key to knowledge of Scripture is meditation. Emersed in the Bible! Controlled by the Bible. As we saturate our minds and hearts with the Word of God, the Spirit of God can bring the Word to our remembrance when needed.? Isaiah 55:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (10) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: (11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.? c. So, what's the problem in our day? Two-fold:? 1) It is a Pew Problem.? Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.? Hebrews 5:11-12 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.? 2) It is a Pulpit Problem.? Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.? 2. Verse 98. Wisdom. “Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies.” Spiritual wisdom is greater than the wisdom of the world and will overcome the wicked.? a. The Master. “Thou … hast made me” is key to adding wisdom to knowledge. By my definition, wisdom is the right application of knowledge. When we love and meditate in God's Word, God the Holy Ghost will teach us how to use it in our daily lives and future days.? b. The Median. “through thy commandments”? Instead of the wisdom of the world which is good to some degree, the wisdom that comes through the application of the Word of God which is all good.? 3. Verse 99-102. Understanding. “Spiritual Engineering.” Knowledge is learning facts; wisdom it learning to put what you learn to work; Understanding is knowing why they work. What does understanding of God's commandment do?? a. Verse 98. They make you wiser than your enemies. You are not ignorant of Satan's devices.? b. Verse 99. They make you wise enough to be an example in both word and truth. You eventually become a teacher of teachers.? c. Verse 100. They make you wiser because you do not follow the wrong paths others before you have trodden.? d. Verse 101. They make you wise enough to know that sinfulness brings about a woeful end.? e. Verse 102. They make you wise enough to not think that you have “arrived” and are foolproof. Satan often attacks us in our strengths in stead of our weaknesses. Never get too wise to be smart!? 4. Verses 103-104. Never get to the place where you are no longer a learner. Often, teachers quit being students and become spiritually stale.? a. Keep the Word of God Sweet so as not to get Stale.? b. Keep the Word of God Faithfully to prevent going into the False Way.

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-20-2024John 14:23-27? Introduction:? A. In the context of our verses for this evening,? we find the Lord Jesus Christ, just before His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, helping His disciples to adapt to what was going to transpire. Heretofore, Our Lord had been with His disciples day and night for 3 ½ years.? B. They knew His Person,? His presence, His provision, and His protection. Now, they would see Him no more. In verse 1, our Lord began this discourse with the words "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me."? 1. In these words, we find a Possible Condition: "your heart be troubled."? Troubled hearts are not the will of God for the lives of His children.? 2. In these words, we find a Personal Choice: "Let not your." Troubled hearts are something that we personally allow.? 3. In these words, we find a Path Clear: "Ye believe in God … believe also in me."? The Lord wants us to find our peace in Him, not our circumstances!? C. When we get down to the end of the chapter,? we find promised peace that comes from the Lord in His physical absence.? Verse 27 is an important one!? "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."? 1. A peace that is available:? "My peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." The Lord is leaving them, but His peace is remaining with them. “I leave … I give” Since our Lord left us that peace, there was no space of time when it was not available!? 2. A peace that is accessible:? "I give unto you." That peace can only come from the Lord Jesus Christ.? 3. A peace that is assuring:? "not troubled … neither afraid."4. A peace that is personal:? :unto you … Let not” Again, let not should not be an option. We get troubled and fearful because of the frailty of the flesh. These are things that we must allow to take over our hearts and minds as we know that He holds tomorrow, and He holds us in His hand.? D. There is a difference between peace with God and the peace of God.? You can have one and not the other! Things That Will Bring Peace To Your Soul!? 1. Peace with God comes through assurance of Salvation. Colossians 1:20? And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.? 2. The Peace of God comes through? total? Surrender.? Isaiah 32:17? And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.? 3. Peace Comes Through Loving The Scripture - Psalms 119:165? Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.? 4. Peace Comes Through A Right Attitude About Oneself - Psalms 37:11? But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.? 5. Peace Comes Through Following The Righteous - Psalms 37:37? Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.? 6. Peace Comes Through Embracing The Knowledge of God - 2 Peter 1:2? Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,? 7. Peace Comes Through Meditating Upon The Lord - Isaiah 26:3? Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.? 8. Peace Comes Through Making Peace - James 3:18? And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.? 2 Corinthians 13:11? Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.? 1 Thessalonians 5:13? And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.? 9. Peace Comes Through Taking Your Burdens To The Lord And Leaving Them There - Philippians 4:6-7? Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Headlines bombard us with news about the devastation in Gaza—the staggering death toll, the increasing war and bloodshed, the innocent lives lost. People on both sides cry for an end to the violence and the pain. ? As Christians, we hear the news, and our hearts fill with compassion and anguish. Why is this happening? Why are people so eager to fight—and die—over this one small section of land?Gaza, also called the Gaza Strip, is a thin piece of land of about 140 square miles located between Israel and Egypt. Roughly 2.3 million Palestinians live there, and it is a Palestinian territory. It is situated on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, with Egypt on its southwest and Israel on its east and north.However, there is longtime animosity between Israel and Palestine. In 1947, the United Nations divided Palestine into an Arab and a Jewish state. This was to accommodate a post-World War Two desire for a Jewish homeland, but it came against the will of the local Arab population.On October 7, 2023, the Islamic militant group Hamas killed more than a thousand people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage in the deadliest attack in Israel's history. Israel immediately declared war on Hamas, and as of this writing, more than 30,000 people have been killed.Beyond a territory for present-day Palestine, the land is much desired by both groups. But there is also much biblical importance and history surrounding Gaza. Here are five biblical reasons by Gaza is important.Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/pawel.gaul

Headlines bombard us with news about the devastation in Gaza—the staggering death toll, the increasing war and bloodshed, the innocent lives lost. People on both sides cry for an end to the violence and the pain. ? As Christians, we hear the news, and our hearts fill with compassion and anguish. Why is this happening? Why are people so eager to fight—and die—over this one small section of land?Gaza, also called the Gaza Strip, is a thin piece of land of about 140 square miles located between Israel and Egypt. Roughly 2.3 million Palestinians live there, and it is a Palestinian territory. It is situated on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, with Egypt on its southwest and Israel on its east and north.However, there is longtime animosity between Israel and Palestine. In 1947, the United Nations divided Palestine into an Arab and a Jewish state. This was to accommodate a post-World War Two desire for a Jewish homeland, but it came against the will of the local Arab population.On October 7, 2023, the Islamic militant group Hamas killed more than a thousand people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage in the deadliest attack in Israel's history. Israel immediately declared war on Hamas, and as of this writing, more than 30,000 people have been killed.Beyond a territory for present-day Palestine, the land is much desired by both groups. But there is also much biblical importance and history surrounding Gaza. Here are five biblical reasons by Gaza is important.Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/pawel.gaul

You Can Trust God with Your MoneyAlan FongThu, 02/15/2024 - 02:00 Wise Financial Practices for Every Christian Is it not one of the great contradictions of the Christian life that we who have trusted Christ with our eternity sometimes struggle to trust Him with our money? God promises to meet our needs, and we all have testimonies of specific times and ways that He has done so. Yet, we still sometimes find a gap between wanting to trust Him with our finances and actually doing so.So what are some of the regular financial practices that help us exercise trust in God?Understand the biblical principle of stewardship? Everything we have—including our earning power and income—is a stewardship from God. Deuteronomy? 8:18 teaches us to “. . . remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth . . . .” It is God who blesses us with jobs and the health to work them. It is the Lord who blesses us with wise choices, good timing, and profitable return on our investments. Everything we have comes from God and belongs to God. He has entrusted us to manage His resources for Him.? Honor God by tithing? The Bible instructs us, “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase” (Proverbs 3:9). We are to set aside the first 10 percent (tithe) of our income and financial increase (passive income and capital gains) to give to the Lord. The tithe is holy and belongs to the Lord (Leviticus? 27:30). Giving it back to God allows us to see His continued blessing in our lives in a way we would not otherwise see. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachai 3:10).Give generously to God's work? Be ready to give an offering to the Lord over and above your tithe as the Lord impresses upon you to give. This would include participating in special offerings at church as well as regular giving to missions and other special funds through your church. We should “be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate” (1? Timothy 6:18).Create and live within a balanced budget? We must live within our means as well as planning for the future. One of the best ways to do this is to create a budget that takes into account our current income and regular expenditures. Our budget should include categories for both present and reoccurring needs. (For instance, some bills come only once per year, but you can set aside money toward the upcoming bill each month. Additional reoccurring needs that may not be present in every pay check include activities for your children, clothing, etc.) Creating and living within a budget helps guard against impulsive or excessive spending.? Save diligently for the future? Be sure to include savings in your budget. It is wise to save a minimum of 20 percent of your take home pay for emergencies and long-term investments. (Of this 20 percent, many people find it helpful to save up to a certain amount for an emergency fund and then redirect that part of their budget to investments until they need to use their emergency fund.) Any gifts and inheritances you receive can also be saved and invested. If available to you, it's good to participate in your employer-sponsored pretax retirement 401(k) or 403(b) plans, especially when they include matching funds.Do some research on investing basics to learn how to grow your money, and seek counsel for these decisions. Hard earned money is what we are paid for our labor. Smart money is when we have our money work for us. It's a good plan to use hard earned money to create smart money. It is important that you establish predetermined checkpoints to see how well you are on track in accumulating money for your future retirement needs.Pray over every financial decision? One of the great indicators of our faith is our prayer life. Part of trusting the Lord with our finances is seeking His direction in them. When it comes to creating a budget, determining your giving, setting up investments, and making large purchases, be sure to seek God's face and ask Him for? wisdom.Establish a will? It's important that you establish a will and trust for the proper distribution of your assets in the event of your death for the care of your survivors. You should also invest in adequate life and disability insurance to fill in shortfalls in your savings and accumulation goals.Live for eternal goals? Be careful that you don't fall into the trap of living for money and riches. First Timothy 6:9 warns, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”Trust in God? It's all too easy to begin trusting in our budget or our income to meet our needs rather than trusting in the Lord. But riches are uncertain. Instead of trusting in “uncertain riches,” we should “trust . . . in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).And you can trust God. You can be faithful in your tithes and offerings, trusting God to provide for your needs. You can trust Him when you are called upon to make financial sacrifices for the Lord's work or to help someone in need. You can trust God when you have a job layoff. You can trust God when the economy is in a recession. You can trust Him when unexpected expenses arise or when your children go to college. You can trust Him if you are called upon to help take care of your parents. You can trust Him to help you make wise choices. You can trust Him in helping you to manage and steward your finances well. Category Christian Living Tags Finances Christian Living

What Does “Woke” Mean? And Why Does It Matter?Dr. Paul ChappellFri, 03/01/2024 - 16:49 Woke is an odd word—and not just because it is a past tense verb that is now commonly used as an adjective. It's odd because it has vague connotations without clear definitions. This ambiguity allows those who appreciate the word's implications to write off those who criticize its implications as “just not understanding its meaning.”? In conversations like this, clarity is always our friend. That's why I was thankful when someone from our Sheriff's Department recently asked me what I meant in using the word woke. This individual is not a believer, and I was happy to answer his question from a Christian perspective.? Below is a lightly-edited copy of the letter that I wrote him. I thought it may be helpful to readers of this blog who have similar conversations with law enforcement or others who are seeking clarity on our concerns over the radical changes in our society that are being furthered under the banner of wokism.? Thanks for asking about the definition of “woke.” I wasn't sure if the question was asked personally or on behalf of the Sheriff, but I am happy to share a few thoughts.? Many of us had never heard the term woke until a few years ago. Prior to that time, it was used simply to describe people who felt awakened to the injustices of racism. In recent years, however, it seems the word has been highjacked by political activists who are often far-left or socialistic in their views and have a larger agenda in mind than standing against racism.? Although I cannot in this short space define the whole woke philosophy as is commonly applied today, I can point out a few frequently used terms and highlight some of their implications.? Social Justice: This is a broad term that often defeats the principles of “equal justice under the law.” Social justice focuses on enforcing equal outcomes for everyone. In this way, it leans into socialism. And amazingly, “social justice” doesn't bring justice to the average citizen, as it focuses on groups rather than on individuals' misconduct or good accomplishments. The end result, as philosopher Friedrich Hayek observed, is that people must be treated unequally in order to create equal outcomes: “And that's what social justice amounts to. It's a demand that the state should treat people differently in order to place them in the same position. . . .To make people equal a goal of governmental policy would force government to treat people very unequally indeed.”? Critical Race Theory (CRT): Under the guise of exposing racism, CRT actually suggests a reverse racism by insisting that the color of one's skin determines whether or not he or she is racist. As one author explained, “Even if a white person has never had a genuinely racist thought…he is still a racist, white supremacist, because he is white and belongs to the majority” (Ronnie W. Rogers, “Understanding the Terms…” blog post). This kind of insistence on seeing everything through the lens of race brings division to communities.LGBTQ Promotion: For many years, the LGBTQ movement has sought to align with the woke activists to gain influence, and that strategy is working. Woke activists aggressively promote sexual behavior and lifestyles through celebrations and legislation with new laws and vocabulary introduced regularly (cisgender, transgender, cultural appropriation, intersectionality, conscious capitalism, etc.). They have enshrined these numerous terms which are now being forced upon the public. The woke agenda also belittles the nuclear, or biblical, family model. Yet strong families are a strength in any society. While claiming to be marginalized, the woke and LBGTQ lobbies in this state are well-represented in government positions and dominant in political circles. Most concerningly, they are now targeting children and prohibiting parents and teachers from speaking up. For instance, CA Bill AB 957 which was put before the California legislature and passed both houses before being vetoed by the governor, said a non-consenting parent of an under-aged child would lose custody if that parent refused a mastectomy or castration (sex re-assignment surgery) for his or her child. Only the “gender affirming” parent is deemed fit to parent a child who may actually be suffering from dysphoria. Additionally, teachers have been fired from their jobs for refusing to go along with these new ideals. (One local example is Jessica Tapias, a teacher in Riverside County, who was fired just this year for refusing to hide gender transitions from parents of young children.)Economic Equity: This aims to reduce the income gap between the poor and middle class—not by increasing economic opportunity for minority groups, but by taking from the middle class by way of taxes and/or not prosecuting theft. Wealth redistribution is a common theme in woke literature.Again, this is a very high-end summary, and more could be said. But the larger point is that, while every American should stand against racism, wokism actually focuses on emphasizing differences between race and seems to have an end agenda of the disruption of society.? In particular, it leads to concerning philosophies as it relates to law enforcement. The interpretation of social justice by woke activists has led to practices such as zero-bail policies, refusing to prosecute crime, and large-scale defunding of and/or disrespect for law enforcement.? These policies, which are supported by left-leaning financiers such as George Soros and others, have been adopted by the Los Angeles District Attorney. The training of these policies has been disseminated throughout Southern Californian governmental agencies. What has been the result?? Increase in crimeIgniting class and race warfareDiscouragement and apathy among law enforcement, including many LA County deputiesFor instance, another bill recently passed the California legislature (AB 852) that requires judges to base their sentencing on race, rather than on crime. The essence of the bill is that someone who is a minority should not be prosecuted to the same extent as someone who is Caucasian because of past injustices. This is the actual opposite of Martin Luther King Jr.'s aspiration that people “not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”The woke philosophy applied to law enforcement has essentially emboldened the criminal element of communities. No doubt, you have seen this with grab-and-go robberies of high-end stores and hit and run accidents. In places where the criminal element of a community is emboldened, the rank-and-file deputies as well as law enforcement in general have become discouraged. I know the citizens of the Antelope Valley as well as anyone, and I can tell you they are discouraged by the emboldened attitude of those who run red lights, commit robbery, and worse.? As a pastor of thirty-seven years here in Los Angeles County, I care about the safety of our citizens and the wellbeing of our law enforcement community. I am concerned to see crime on the rise and criminals emboldened. I'm saddened, too, to see these issues tied to race. I've preached here in our community for nearly four decades against racism, and I know that all people are made in the image of God.? Theologically and biblically, I believe that all humans fall short of God's perfection (Romans 3:23). None of us are better than others. We have all broken God's law, and we all need redemption through the finished work of Christ for us (Romans 6:23). Whoever calls to God, acknowledges his or her sin, and receives Christ as Savior may have forgiveness and peace with God. I realize this last point is another, although related, topic. But I am happy to discuss it with you at some point in time.? I realize there is political pressure because many woke activists are political donors. Yet, I believe the Sheriff's Department must not be guided by the woke agenda, but by the law. Without law and order, nothing else works in society. Certainly, our new Captain in Lancaster or anyone in the department should be advanced based on integrity, respect, leadership, and a history of good policing. They should not be affirmed because of adherence to a particular dogma such as “wokism.”Thank you for your service to our community. Please know that I am here to help you and our law enforcement community in any way that I can.? Your Friend,Paul Chappell? P. S. I'm happy to provide additional resources on wokism and woke interpretations of social justice if these would be a help to you. A few that may be a help are Fault Lines by Voddie Baucham Jr. and Woke, Inc. by Vivek Ramaswamy. I have written a minibook on this topic titled Which Justice? which I would be glad to send you. Category Christian Living

God and Country? (PG-13), released this month, “takes a closer look at the dangerous implications” of Christian nationalism and “explores how a base of Christians has radically stoked a movement erasing the line between Church and State,” its website advertises. Rob Reiner is a producer.

Recently, Argentinian President Javier Milei arrived in Israel to show solidarity at this time of war and to turn the tide between the stained past of his country's relationship with Israel. Milei's visit was significant and historic on many levels.

Keeping both the Bible and current events in mind, what's going on in the Middle East from a biblical point of view at the moment? And what has Bethlehem got to do with Bahrain?

You Can Trust God with Your MoneyAlan FongThu, 02/15/2024 - 02:00 Wise Financial Practices for Every Christian Is it not one of the great contradictions of the Christian life that we who have trusted Christ with our eternity sometimes struggle to trust Him with our money? God promises to meet our needs, and we all have testimonies of specific times and ways that He has done so. Yet, we still sometimes find a gap between wanting to trust Him with our finances and actually doing so.So what are some of the regular financial practices that help us exercise trust in God?Understand the biblical principle of stewardship? Everything we have—including our earning power and income—is a stewardship from God. Deuteronomy? 8:18 teaches us to “. . . remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth . . . .” It is God who blesses us with jobs and the health to work them. It is the Lord who blesses us with wise choices, good timing, and profitable return on our investments. Everything we have comes from God and belongs to God. He has entrusted us to manage His resources for Him.? Honor God by tithing? The Bible instructs us, “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase” (Proverbs 3:9). We are to set aside the first 10 percent (tithe) of our income and financial increase (passive income and capital gains) to give to the Lord. The tithe is holy and belongs to the Lord (Leviticus? 27:30). Giving it back to God allows us to see His continued blessing in our lives in a way we would not otherwise see. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachai 3:10).Give generously to God's work? Be ready to give an offering to the Lord over and above your tithe as the Lord impresses upon you to give. This would include participating in special offerings at church as well as regular giving to missions and other special funds through your church. We should “be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate” (1? Timothy 6:18).Create and live within a balanced budget? We must live within our means as well as planning for the future. One of the best ways to do this is to create a budget that takes into account our current income and regular expenditures. Our budget should include categories for both present and reoccurring needs. (For instance, some bills come only once per year, but you can set aside money toward the upcoming bill each month. Additional reoccurring needs that may not be present in every pay check include activities for your children, clothing, etc.) Creating and living within a budget helps guard against impulsive or excessive spending.? Save diligently for the future? Be sure to include savings in your budget. It is wise to save a minimum of 20 percent of your take home pay for emergencies and long-term investments. (Of this 20 percent, many people find it helpful to save up to a certain amount for an emergency fund and then redirect that part of their budget to investments until they need to use their emergency fund.) Any gifts and inheritances you receive can also be saved and invested. If available to you, it's good to participate in your employer-sponsored pretax retirement 401(k) or 403(b) plans, especially when they include matching funds.Do some research on investing basics to learn how to grow your money, and seek counsel for these decisions. Hard earned money is what we are paid for our labor. Smart money is when we have our money work for us. It's a good plan to use hard earned money to create smart money. It is important that you establish predetermined checkpoints to see how well you are on track in accumulating money for your future retirement needs.Pray over every financial decision? One of the great indicators of our faith is our prayer life. Part of trusting the Lord with our finances is seeking His direction in them. When it comes to creating a budget, determining your giving, setting up investments, and making large purchases, be sure to seek God's face and ask Him for? wisdom.Establish a will? It's important that you establish a will and trust for the proper distribution of your assets in the event of your death for the care of your survivors. You should also invest in adequate life and disability insurance to fill in shortfalls in your savings and accumulation goals.Live for eternal goals? Be careful that you don't fall into the trap of living for money and riches. First Timothy 6:9 warns, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”Trust in God? It's all too easy to begin trusting in our budget or our income to meet our needs rather than trusting in the Lord. But riches are uncertain. Instead of trusting in “uncertain riches,” we should “trust . . . in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).And you can trust God. You can be faithful in your tithes and offerings, trusting God to provide for your needs. You can trust Him when you are called upon to make financial sacrifices for the Lord's work or to help someone in need. You can trust God when you have a job layoff. You can trust God when the economy is in a recession. You can trust Him when unexpected expenses arise or when your children go to college. You can trust Him if you are called upon to help take care of your parents. You can trust Him to help you make wise choices. You can trust Him in helping you to manage and steward your finances well. Category Christian Living Tags Finances Christian Living

An influential group of black megachurch pastors urged President Joe Biden to call for a ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. "For them to call for a ceasefire is Mr. Putin's message," Rep. Nance Pelosi told CNN.

An influential group of black megachurch pastors urged President Joe Biden to call for a ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. "For them to call for a ceasefire is Mr. Putin's message," Rep. Nance Pelosi told CNN.

An influential group of black megachurch pastors urged President Joe Biden to call for a ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. "For them to call for a ceasefire is Mr. Putin's message," Rep. Nance Pelosi told CNN.

Until 1980, in fact,? the sexes voted? within a few percentage points of each other. Since then, things have changed dramatically.

Marriage is a gift given to us by our gracious God with the intent of reflecting the covenantal relationship between Christ and the church (Eph. 5:31-33). If we're being honest, though, marriage doesn't always feel like a gift. Sometimes, marriages reflect the pain and suffering of the world rather than God's goodness.If you feel your marriage is falling apart, I hope to offer you some ideas for getting back on track. The following ideas are too simplistic for marriages involving abuse. They are intended for those who are growing apart and need help to find their way back to one another.Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/PeopleImages

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Family Research Council's Center for Religious Liberty today published an updated edition of its report "Free to Believe? The Intensifying Intolerance Toward Christians in the West," which seeks to provide a better understanding of religious freedom violations perpetrated by Western governments against Christian individuals, organizations, and churches. Between January 2020 and December 2023, FRC identified 168 such incidents across 16 countries....

This entry from 21 years ago illustrates the tension between evident design and evolutionary assumptions.

Like most cities in the Old World, Paris is best discovered by foot. Between all the museums, grand parks and iconic landmarks to say nothing of the omnipresent sidewalk cafes, it's easy to walk 10 miles on any given day without much effort.

A new movie, “Freud's Last Session,” imagines a dialogue—and a friendship—between the famed psychologist and C.S. Lewis.

A new movie, “Freud's Last Session,” imagines a dialogue—and a friendship—between the famed psychologist and C.S. Lewis.

For Pastor Seungeun Kim, accompanying North Korean defectors as they trek toward freedom through the jungle between Vietnam and Laos is, as he put it, “just going to work.”The post Pastor rescues North Korean defectors on foot in new documentary ‘Beyond Utopia' appeared first on Baptist News Global.

Mike Johnson, newly elected speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, warned conservative Christian lawmakers Dec. 5 the nation is engaged in a battle of worldviews. “What we’re engaged in right now is a battle between worldviews. It’s a great...The post America engaged in ‘battle of worldviews,' Mike Johnson tells Christian lawmakers group appeared first on Baptist News Global.