Grace or Grit

The easy answer to the question, "Is violence ever justified?" would be, "No."  In many ways our society repeatedly regurgitates such a mantra while simultaneously contradicting that very message constantly through both art and action.  But we aren't living in a fantasy world, we are living in a very raw, real, and difficult world.  And, like it or not, violence is as almost as old as humanity.  Even in nature we find that violence is as common as life itself.

So, what about in these following contexts?

- Self defense

- Defending others

- Acting as a law enforcement officer 

- Acting as a soldier 

- Participating in a revolution against tyranny   

- Corporal punishment

On the one hand we read that Jesus told us to turn the other cheek.  On the other hand, the lethal weapon carried by the official rightfully designated to do so is said to be an instrument of justice useful in meeting out divine wrath against evil citizens (see Romans 13).  So, we ask it again.  Is violence ever justified?  Or maybe better, under what circumstances is violence justifiable? 

Listen to Dave and Patrick give this difficult topic their best shot.

In Deuteronomy 10:17 & 18 we read these words, “The LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regards not persons, nor takes reward: He does execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loves the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.” 

Again, Psalm 68:5 similarly shows us God’s Spirit inspired description of Himself as "A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in His holy habitation.”

In the New Testament James is lead to write that the first characteristic of pure religion is to care for the fatherless.

I think we have a recurring theme here.  God cares for the fatherless.

On this episode Dave interviews a guest, Nicole Smith, and explores the kindness of God in her life as she grew up without her father's involvement in her life.  Listen now to this story of grace.

Contentment is a state of happiness and satisfaction. But it is not (and must not be allowed to become) complacency, lethargy, or apathy.

Ambition is a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. But unfortunately it can include greed, covetousness, jealousy, and cruelty.

Are these two things naturally contrary to each other.  Are they mutually exclusive?  Can’t we be both content and ambitious?

How do we know when to settle down and accept the station in life at which we find ourselves, and when we should be "restless" and in a mode of exploration and conquest?

What are the tell-tale signs that our contentment is becoming apathy?  And what are the tell-tale signs that our ambition has soured into excess?

Listen as Dave, Patrick (and then Tonya) discuss this life dilemma.  

Food before dessert.  Work before play.  Meaning before diversion.  Business before pleasure.

What are we talking about?  The priorities of life.

We live in a time when many people (even Christians) in our society spend most or all of their time on interests that have little or no eternal value.  It's one thing to take a break from the grind; to escape in order to recharge.  It's quite another to skip over the relevant and significant priorities of life in order to fill one's mind and time with frivolous entertainment and meaningless distractions.  Yet this way of life is exceedingly common.  

What is the source of this problem, and how should we address it when we see it in our own lives?  

Blaise Pascal, in Pensées wrote, “The only thing that consoles us for our miseries is diversion. And yet it is the greatest of our miseries. For it is that above all which prevents us thinking about ourselves and leads is imperceptibly to destruction. But for that we should be bored, and boredom would drive us to seek some more solid means of escape, but diversion passes our time and brings us imperceptibly to our death.”

Listen as Dave and Patrick both take a shot at addressing this very important issue.

On this episode of Grace or Grit I (Dave Talley) have given my usual co-host (Patrick Reed) the week off, because today I have as a very special guest on our podcast, my mother: Rebecca June Talley. 

That should be introduction enough.  Listen as we talk about old times and God's great grace!

Our experiences this side of the grave determine what our experiences will be like on the other side of the grave.  If we will, we can invest our temporary material resources now in eternal spiritual endeavors and thereby “lay up treasurers in heaven.”  We can exchange dollars for crowns.  Our currency here is no good there anyway, so it's best that we insure that our wealth is heavenly wealth, not earthly wealth.

This podcast episode turned into a tag-team recording.  Patrick started out with Dave in this discussion, but he had to take off early, so Dave's wife Tonya stepped in ably to finish the discussion.  Listen now!

"As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name..." (John 1:12).

Does that verse indicate the order of things in our salvation?  Dave affirms that such is the case.  Patrick says, maybe not.

This podcast is an explanation of Monergism and the proper order of regeneration and faith?  Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?  Monergists claim that the Spirit regenerates a man, then that quickening shows up in the form of faith.  But is there any Scripture to back up such claim?

Put on your thinking cap and dive in with us.

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.