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God's spirit adds something to your life called Prautes. That's the word in the original language... Greek. Attempts to translate Prautes into the English language is a challenge. There is no good word in our language to convey the meaning of Prautes. Vine's Expository Dictionary defines of prautes as: an attitude toward God [state of mind], submitting one's self to God, not resisting God, confident in God's presence, authority, and power. Prautes gives calmness of spirit from mental focus which is not on self, or prioritizing personal desires.... Prautes seeks and wants what the Creator of life desires. Prautes is is confidence that God is in charge, and acceptance that God is in charge.A Greek writer, s such as Aristotle would use the word to describe a person who would only express anger, frustration [negative emotions] when transcendent moral principles were at stake rather than because of the petty annoyances of life. The more I looked into prautes… the more I wanted it as part of my thinking. I hope you will too. Do your own personal bible study on the Holy Spirit of God with this free bible study guide: The Power of the Holy SpiritKeep Reading »

1.  Plan Time For Regular StudyThe bible is still a very popular book. It is generally revered and respected. Most households own a copy. But it remains unread.... sort of like a family, or cultural heirloom. That might even be the case with you. I know its there, I don't enjoy reading it, my mind drifts, I don't understand how to apply it to my life, I've already read it.  God's plan for you will not be accomplished without regular contact with His word. God has given you His word as tool to be used in the work of preparing yourself, changing yourself, understanding your purpose. One of the works of the holy spirit is the washing of the Ephesians 5:25-26.2. Let The Bible Interpret Itself2 Timothy 2:15 "rightly dividing" ... means to cut straight [analogy of surgeon operating on spleen but ends up cutting out a liver] Once you have committed yourself to regularly reading the word of God it is good to have some guidelines. Passionate readers of the bible can still take it in weird, anti-social directions. They "discover" things that lead them to separate themself from the body of Christ. You want to guard against that! A) If you come upon a particular verse you find confusing/unclear/contradictory, then let other more direct/clear verses in the bible provide understanding. Keep Reading »

Many people read the bible... many people study it... but few truly understand. MY purpose today is to explain how attitude can help or hinder a persons level of biblical understanding.We must come to the bible with respect and humility.Respect: 1) to admire a person or thing for it's abilities, qualities, achievements 2) positive feelings for something you consider important 3) politeness, honor, and care shown towards someone or something that is considered important. Humility: 1) the feeling or attitude that you have no special importance that makes you better than others; lack of pride. 2) Recognition of self in relation to a deity [YHWH the creator]Without the right approach we may still be able to discern certain biblical truths on a limited level... but at the same time suffer huge blind spots with regard to God's revelation to us. For example: some people latch on to "the Torah" and develop a reverence for God's commands but seem to miss out on God's plan of salvation and get caught up in Jewish traditions, whereas others, only want to talk about Jesus' on the cross but miss out on God's call to obedience and get caught up in human philosophies/traditions. For more in-depth information request a copy this FREE study plan --> United Church of God's bible study course. Keep Reading »

When I was born [1961] the world was in the midst of what is called the cold war. The opponents were of course the USA and the USSR. The Cold War was not a battle fought with guns [except for small scale skirmishes like Vietnam or Afghanistan]. The Cold War was a war of deception, disinformation, propaganda, and threats. Psychological warfare   geared toward wearing down the resolve of the opponent and their willingness to defend themselves. The church of God is at war with Satan... because Satan is at war with us. Right now our conflict is like a cold war... the spiritual forces of evil which infest human governments are held back by God. However, we are warned that very close to the return of Christ that restraint will be removed. Then Satan's war with the Church will go hot. Request a FREE copy of our bible study guide: Is There Really a Devil? Keep Reading »

3 Steps to More Active FellowshipDefinition of fellowship:Noun: a community based on shared interest, activity, feeling, experience. So you could say the church is a fellowship because we have the same beliefs, we have the same worship practices [Sabbath, holy days, tithing etc.], we share the same holy spirit, we have gone through trials together. Verb: the interaction that comes about through common cause... sharing, giving, for example the words we say to one another, the time we spend together, or material goods. Today I want to concentrate on fellowship that is active... intentional... mindful... and pleasing to our Father Creator. I have three points: 1) presence 2) communication 3) hospitality. But first…God Designed The ChurchIf we have a problem with the church we actually have a problem with God and the way He has set things up. We can try to wriggle around this dilemma by blaming the people. That way we can let God off the hook, or separate our interaction with Him from our interaction with the church: For example: you might not like being thrown together with this motley crew, you might question how could God allow such a person or people in His church. Maybe you don't like the people in charge are doing things. We might want to walk away or distance ourselves… but our interaction with God cannot be separated from the church. God designed His way of life... his truth... to function within the context of and assembly, an ecclesia, a church, a fellowship. At one time that meant an assembly of people called to be a nation [Israel]. In this present age it means an assembly, an ecclesia, a church,  composed of people called from all different backgrounds and ancestries. A family of people who are not blood related... who share the same beliefs and ideals... who can offer help and encouragement to one another as we grow into the fullness of Christ. God has designed the church to accommodate flaws. What He is interested in is how you deal with these problems… not that we all reach nirvana in the church. The church is not your "destination" it is a road.  Fellowship is part of how you get on down the road! Get a FREE copy of The Church Jesus Built... discover what the bible really says about the church Jesus would leave behind! Keep Reading »

What Is Love?1 John 4:7-8, 16 without a doubt LOVE is the very heart of our belief system. But what is love? What does it look like? How can I know it when I see it? Is there anything I can  do to walk in loving mindset? Is love a feeling? Does love mean caring deeply [but then we have to ask what does caring means], is love sexual attraction? Love means different things to different people. Problem: 1. If we all have a different definition of love then love really has no meaning at all. Note: this is how "love" is used as a deceptive code word to excuse, or encourage many self destructive behaviors. For example; If I discipline my child so they might develop self discipline and a better shot at success in life, am I loving, or am I rigid and harsh? If I give into every whim of my child and shower them with gifts such that they always expect to have their own way and don't learn to earn their success, am I loving, or am I lazy?2. The most popular definitions of love [feeling or sexual attraction] are not actionable and therefore cannot be taught, or learned. Feelings or sexual attraction are merely responses to external stimuli.The 10 Commandments Define LoveFor love to be a helpful guide to life it must be defined and given actionable features. The 10 commandments of God are the beginning of creating such a definition. We must build on that foundation... but the 10 commandments is where we start. Request your FREE copy of the helpful bible study guide: The Ten Commandments Matthew 22:35-40 Jesus was providing a summary of the commandments ultimate purpose:1. To practice, learn, and demonstrate love towards God2. To practice, learn, and demonstrate love towards our fellow human beings Keep Reading »

There is no prayer our Creator is unable to hear… He is all knowing and all seeing. God also has all power over all things so He is not limited in what He can do in response. God has the ability to hear all prayers but obviously does not grant all requests made in prayer. What if two people entered into a contest and both prayed for victory… they both can’t be given what they want. So, God must decide when to act and when not to act. Request a copy of a Free bible study guide: Tools For Spiritual Growth Keep Reading »

Satan's Hidden AgendaWe live in a time that is filled with hatred and rage... two signature characteristics of the Godlessness of the end-times is brutality and lack of self control. Our news reports are filled with stories of outraged mobs hurling vile accusations and death threats at people they disagree with. We are losing all sense of respect and mutual concern. In my opinion most of what counts as news these days is basically; who said what mean thing against who. How can human beings [every one of whom is made in the likeness of God] become so full of hatred for other human beings who are made in God's image? One reason is they have a futile and darkened understanding of who and what a human being is. Request a FREE copy of this bible study guide"Is There Really a Devil? Keep Reading »

Peter’s SermonHere is a link to the chart used in this message Acts 2:1-13 Gathered together / H.S. comes with sound of wind and fire/ disciples begin speaking in all sorts of foreign languages… People out on the street come to see what the ruckus is all about… They hear the disciples prophesying about the KOG in their own language. Acts 2:15-18 Peter explains to them that this is the outpouring of God’s spirit prophesied in Joel 2:28:32. An event that was to happen in the "later" days. Peter re-phrases Joel's prophecy and speaks of what is happening that Pentecost day in 31 A.D. as "these last [final] days". Since Peter made this public proclamation 1,988 years have come and gone and it is now the year 2019.  So how could Peter speak of his own time as "these last [final] days"? Was he wrong? Had he given in to his own private interpretation of scripture? Was he just being overly optimistic about how much time was left until Christ returned? My purpose today is to convince, persuade, remind you that Peter [as inspired by the spirit of God] was speaking of a final age that was beginning on that day, Pentecost 31 AD. It was the beginning of the final age before the return of Christ. I am going to call this "the age of the Church of God". ******************Request a FREE copy of The Church That Jesus Built. Discover Jesus' real intent for the Church.****************** Keep Reading »

Every human being who has ever lived will be judged. You, me, the man down the street, Europeans, Asians, Africans, Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists. People who died last week and people who died 3,000 years ago. Various non-biblical cultures have their own ideas about life after death. Christians, Jews, Muslims have their ideas about death. Without recounting all the variations the basic concept is that a person will be judged after they die and receive some sort of reward, or punishment based on what they did in this life. Most of what is taught about the afterlife and in particular about judgment is foolish non-sense.The only reliable source of information regarding the afterlife and in particular about judgment is the bible. Many people think they know what the bible says about judgment but really don't. The average person's belief about what they think the scriptures say has more in common with human folk-tales that the actual recorded word of God. Today we are going to review the biblical teaching on judgment. Hebrews 9:27 the bible says everyone will be judged. But judgment is not a single event, it is a process. Judgment has distinct steps which lead to a final conclusion in a fair and equitable way. The necessary steps are the same for all people, but the timing of the steps is different for those who believe and are baptized into Christ, and those who are not. The Timeline for Non-BelieversThe vast majority of people who have ever lived and died have not had access to God's truth, not had access to forgiveness through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, or received the holy spirit. The process of judgment for such people is:1. They are born flesh and blood, after about 70-100 years they die. They remain in this state of death which is likened in scripture to sleep.2. Christ returns at the time appointed by the Father. These non-believers who have died remain in death. They are not resurrected when Christ returns. 3. While they remain asleep, Christ establishes the rule of God on earth for 1,000 years. Revelation 20:4-54. After the 1,000 years are over they are resurrected (back to flesh and blood), so they can enter into the process of judgment before God5. At this time they now are given access to God's truth, they can receive the holy spirit. With all the necessary ingredients available to them they are evaluated using the standard of God's word Revelation 20:11-13.6. A final decision is made whether they are suitable for eternal life [they are either written into the book of life, or destroyed in an all consuming fire] Revelation 20:15. Request a FREE copy of our bible study guide: ➤ What Happens After Death? Keep Reading »