Grace or Grit

The Bible tells us plainly that we will suffer.  “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

On this episode David is joined by one of the members of grace Baptist Church, Russ Nash.  Russ has dealt with chronic pain for years.  Listen to him share his testimony as well as his perspective on how God uses pain in our lives for our sanctification.  

The original title that I wanted to use for this episode was: "What’ll ya have… What’ll ya have?”

Kelly D'Armi told me about that mantra.  It is the serving call of the Varsity hot dog stand down in Atlanta, GA (where Kelly heard it).

King Solomon received an offer from God that sounded a little like that saying.  God proposed to give him anything he wanted. 

But what if you or I were to receive such an offer.  Kelly's answer to the hypothetical question from God, “Kelly, what do you want?” was this, "I want what You want."  

Simple, surprising, profound and powerful... especially since Kelly has a 32 years adult son (Thomas) who requires 100% care.

Listen as Dave and Patrick discuss Kelly's story with him.  You will be blessed and challenged.  

The the gate that leads to eternal life is straight, right?  Or, is it strait.  Read that again.

I (Dave) have been reading it as "straight" and using Jesus' words as if he said "straight" - when in actuality, He didn't.

How many other obvious errors have I made?  How many have we made?  How many are we still making?

You may not know this, but there are some churches who practice foot washing as a ritual.  We don't, but some do.  Who's got it right?

On this episode we are joined by Chris Kitchens again.  He was last with us when we talked about cremation.  Chris is quite familiar with the foot washing tradition.  So, buckle up and go with Patrick, Dave, & Chris as we explore these and a few other issues together.

In 1st Timothy 4:6-11 Paul wrote, “Refuse profane (non-sacred) and old wives' fables (also translated “silly myths"), and exercise yourself rather unto godliness.”

Then in Acts 17:22-23 we find it written, “Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, 'You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious (uninformed and erroneously religious - devoted, but without knowledge of the truth).  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.'”

Superstition is defined as "a widely held but unjustified belief in supernatural causation leading to certain consequences of an action or event, or a practice based on such a belief."  Unfortunately, many Christians have been duped into accepting unbiblical and unfounded ideas that could best be described as fables and superstitions.  Maybe you are guilty of adopting one or two of them yourself.  It's important that we always find our comfort and confidence in the truth, not in legends and fairy tales.  Listen as Dave and Patrick discuss this issue with Pastor Justin Joiner.  You may find out that you too have an error or two to give up. 

In Genesis 8:21-22 we read that after Noah's flood, "The LORD smelled a sweet savor (that of Noah's sacrifice); and said in His heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.  While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."  

Then in Genesis 9 we find the unfurling of the symbol of God's covenant of mercy.  That symbol is the rainbow.  Every time we see a rainbow in the clouds we should be reminded that God still remembers His promise of patience.  He knew that the human race would once again deserve a worldwide drowning, but He decided unilaterally not to drown us again.  

Of course, in our time and culture the rainbow has become a symbol that seems at first blush to point in quite a different direction.  But is it really pointing in another direction?  Listen to Dave and Patrick as they discuss this very important current issue with Pastor Bill Kruppa. 

Doubtless every person's lot in life has its advantages and disadvantages.  It's neither wise nor noble to play the martyr when one is certainly no martyr.  On the other hand, children who grow up in the home of Christian minister do indeed have some unique challenges.  They should always experience some significant esoteric blessings as well, but their temptations are real and therefore need to be admitted.

On this episode Dave goes solo to interview his 2 daughters, Kayla and Amber.  Listen as these 2 young ladies bare their heart a little. 

God has called you and has given you what you need to serve Him in some specific way?  But how are you to know what your calling is?  Specifically, how does one discover and then demonstrate that God has called them into preaching ministry? 

In Acts 13:2 we read this testimony, "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, 'Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.'"  So, God used the church and worked through the church [congregation] to ordain the Apostle Paul into his missionary work.  But is that all there is to it?  Do we just wait around for the church to recognize God's leading in our life?

On this episode Dave and Patrick are joined by Jason McConnell in an interesting conversation about this very topic.  Listen now.