The rhythms of life are those helpful routines that we get into that make us productive. The ruts of life are those hurtful cycles that we also get into that limit our effectiveness.

There are certain terms that I used to never hear used the way they are often used now.  One of those terms is "rhythms."  For a long time I only heard that word used in reference to sound.  It was the rhythm of the song, or the rhythm of the waves, or the rhythm of your heart. I knew that you could even have rhythm in poetry or maybe in the sound of an engine.  But one of the definitions of the word rhythm is "a regularly recurring sequences of events, actions, or processes."  Theoretically that could be either good or bad, but repeatedly lately, I’ve heard this word used with maximum intended optimism.  In other words, I hear successful people talking about the rhythms of life that help them to move forward and make progress.  It’s the comfortable and pleasant daily structure of a cup of coffee in your hand and your Bible in your lap.

The guest on today's episode is Mrs. Ashley McConnell.  Listen and Dave and Patrick exchange thoughts and perspectives with Ashley concerning this very relevant topic. 

In Exodus 21:22–25 (in the Bible) we read, “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine.  But if there is harm, then you must pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” 

Moses’ law was clear. The loss of an unborn child as a result of violence was a capital crime, punishable by death. He said that the death of an unborn child would have to be paid for "life for life."  In fact, if the child did not die but was injured in some way, the same injury was to be executed on the guilty party.

Now, I’m not using that Scripture to discuss punitive laws in our context (although that would be a good discussion to have), but only to point out that under God's law the unborn had equal rights with all other people.

It’s both a biblical and a logical conviction of mine that not only does life begin at conception, but the unalienable human rights of the conceived child are full and immediate. And so, in a land where those rights have been taken away through Roe v. Wade, I’m so glad that there are groups and organizations out there trying to protect the lives of the unborn and to help and assist the parents and families of the unborn as well.

Our guest on this episode is Sharon Finecey.  Sharon is the Executive Director of Choices Pregnancy Center in Easton, MD.  We at Grace Baptist Church are sponsors and supporters of their ministry.  Listen to Sharon's testimony and learn about how you too can be a part of saving lives.

We really don’t want to base our counsel on our personal experiences, whatever merit those experiences might offer.  

And, we are not medical professionals.  Maybe you've seen the sign that says, “Please don’t confuse your Google search with my medical degree?” Of course, you can find medical professionals on both sides of the vaccine issue, so I’m not too sure that’s always as helpful as we might like to assume. 

What we are authorized and even commanded to do is to take the Scripture and use it to instruct ourselves and our fellow Christians. So, on this episode Patrick & I (Dave) talk as carefully as we know how with another preacher (Evangelist Phil Schipper) about the pros and cons of vaccines, especially the COVID vaccines.

Listen and let us know your impressions.

Of course we know what happens to our bodies when we die. God made us from dirt, so one way or another our bodies return to that same state. Whether by cremation, burial, mummification, eaten by fish, donated to science… eventually all dead bodies become dust again.  Of course we know that eventually our bodies are reconstituted and resurrected… both the the bodies of the saved and of the lost.

But how about our conscious existence?  What happens to our spirit? Our immaterial nature exists beyond the stoppage of our heart and the ceasing of our brain waves. But where is it after the body dies and how does it perceive and communicate?

There is no biblical basis for soul sleep, or purgatory, or annihilation, hauntings.  So what actually happens to the real me?

Would you be willing to take a few minutes and pray with me for God's blessings upon this podcasting season.  We want to bless others, and to do that we must be blessed.  Listen and pray along.

This is a very unique episode.  First of all, it's the first time we have attempted a "PART 2" episode.  And now, it looks like we will need a "PART 3" too.  Because, as a result of a conciliation, it's the first (wait, maybe the second) time we have had an unplanned guest.  Tonya was on the call just to listen, and when Tracy couldn't show due to her having COVID-19, Tonya (Dave's wife) stepped in to fill in for her.  And, she did really great.

So, on this episode we continue addressing some of the issues hinted at in episode 1 and in the sermon series from November.  Want to know what those issues are, well you got to listen to find out.  Thanks in advance for giving this "Grace or Grit" episode a chance to be a blessing to you!

This month I’m preaching a sermon series entitled “The WOMEN of the Bible.” It is a direct attempt to answer some questions that were asked of me concerning femininity.  From a broad perspective, the sermon series will be an attempt to explain some of the teachings in the Bible concerning women. 

Why do this? Well, because some of the Bible’s teachings do indeed seem quite strange and obtuse… at least from the perspective of our modern “enlightened” culture.

On this episode Dave and Patrick are joined by a wonderful Christian lady and leader, Tracy Bumgarner.  Together these three provide a pretty good introduction to the topic that we hope to cover in the pulpit at Grace Baptist Church for the month of November.  

Does God always want you and me to always be healthy, wealthy, comfortable, successful, and happy?

The modern "prosperity gospel preachers" would lead us to believe that He does.  When Jesus saved you from sin, He also saved you from poverty, illness, and oppression.  Do you agree with that?

Asceticism makes the opposite claim.  This philosophy would have us believe that the sicker you are, the poorer you are, the more uncomfortable you are, the more you fail to get ahead, and the more miserable you are, the better.  God doesn't want you to enjoy life.  Pleasure is evil.  Do you agree with that?

Strangely, there are truths hidden in both of these perspectives.  Well, really there are truths eclipsed by each of these perspectives.  Both are built on misconstruing actual biblical truth.  

Listen as Dave and Patrick attempt to unravel this matter in a simple and applicable manner.

Humans are made in the image and likeness of God.  As such, we are more than just matter in motion.  As beings, we are both material and immaterial.  But what exactly is the immaterial part of humanity?  We use words like mind, soul, spirit, heart, will, emotion, nature, etc.  But are these parts of one thing, like the liver and stomach are both parts of the body?  Or, are these somehow separate things.  Especially when we talk about the soul and spirit, there are some who take a dogmatic approach to the differentiation. 

Listen today as Dave and Patrick discuss this question (as well as a few other questions that this question leads into).  

I'm sure you've noticed that preachers are always happy, always bold and courageous, and always full of energy...

...except when we're not.

Today is confession day.  Patrick is under the weather, so Dave is joined by his wife Tonya for a discussion about the struggles of life in ministry.  

Listen if you dare...