Saddlecreek Valley Courier

Joy is the second fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22. Joy is a gift of God through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. When we choose happiness--regardless of the circumstances of life--God gives us joy!

Beginning the new year the publishing schedule for GoodlifeNews! Podcast and Blog is changing from weekly to monthly. Each new episode will publish on the last Monday of each month.

This month--January 2022-- the focus is on God's Agápe Love, the first of the nine fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. For the first nine months of this year we will explore a new "fruit" from that list.

Be sure to watch for the announcements, and tune in! Also, please share the links with a friend!

Some thoughts of our spiritual condition as we approach 2022, plus a short story of a memorable New Year's Eve from 40 years ago when I was pastor of a small congregation in Irrigon, Oregon--a tiny community on the banks of the Columbia River in eastern Oregon.

On the night Jesus was born in Bethlehem, angels from heaven sang in celebration. The only attendees to this amazing concert were a few lowly shepherds tending their flocks out in the fields around the hometown of King David--the shepherd boy who became a great king of Israel and wrote the beloved 23rd Psalm.

What might we learn from the angels' announcement? Be sure to listen and find out!

The bulk of this episode is the telling of an "unforgettable Christmas gift" from my young years growing up on the farm. I hope you enjoy it!

In this episode I share a brief bio of Eric Metaxas, then explore a few of his larger books--biographies of Martin Luther, William Wilberforce, Dietrich Bonhoeffer--and his most recent book, Is Atheism Dead? 

Also, I encourage listeners to visit the blogpost of this episode to see the pictures I include there--especially the diagram of the cargo deck of a 16th century ship. This picture, and others like it, was instrumental in bringing awareness of the British people to the inhumane plight and treatment of the African slaves. The drawings aroused such a public outcry that Parliament was forced to act, passing legislation outlawing slavery. 

Some Christians have claimed that today's believers do not need to keep the Ten Commandments, because they believe the Old Testament Law--in all its precepts--was "nailed to the cross," thereby ending the obligation to obey God's instructions for the Jews. Others believe that what was nailed to the cross was only the Jewish ceremonial laws -- and they were fulfilled by the perfect life of Christ.

What is the truth of the matter?

In this episode I explore the biblical foundations of Paul's message to the Colossians where this expression is found.

Here's the final installment of the six-part series, "Studies in Romans: Saved by Grace; Powered by Love." This is the concluding episode for the series. In it I explore the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to move us from being "shame-based" to "grace-based."

In this episode we dig a little deeper into Paul's admonition in Romans 12:1-2 to "present your body as a living sacrifice." Just what does that mean? And how does this relate to the principle that "the purpose of a temple is to glorify the deity within"? May God bless each one who listens! I pray that we all may grow in grace each day in our journey toward the Kingdom! LLF

This is Part IV of the series, "Studies in Romans: Saved by Grace; Powered by Love." What does it mean to "live by faith"? How do we do that? What role does the Holy Spirit play? These are vital teachings from the Apostle Paul here in the Book of Romans.