Grace or Grit

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...

It's been over a month since we've talked at length with co-host Patrick Reed. This episode is dedicated solely to catching up with him and learning about what's going on right now with his family and with the work there in The Gambia.

Listen now...

Mandy Nash is one of God's precious daughters.  She is an elect lady, like the recipient of John's 2nd epistle.  And, she has been through much.  Some of it was by her own choices, but much of her suffering was a result of oppression that Satan and his children placed on her.  Yet, she is victorious.  Her love for Christ and for her family is evident.  She is one of the many wonderful female followers of Christ who are contributing significantly to the construction of the kingdom of God in the hearts of men, women, boys, and girls today.  God is using Mandy in mighty ways.

Listen to Mandy's testimony and her thoughts on the experience of women in the church.  In her words, when it comes to the roles that men and women have in the church and in the home, "It's not a competition."  Amen to that!