BLOG Archives - Foundations Bible Church

Pastor’s Pen

Posted on Dec 4, 2025 in BLOG |

I recently heard a podcast giving statistics about the number of Christians in Nigeria that have been persecuted and martyred. It made me think about what it would be like for us if it began to happen here in the
United States. Truth be told – persecution is on the rise even here…. It comes in various forms like familial
push back about one’s faith in Christ (or at least not their “version” of it), legislative actions like hate
speech laws, conversion therapy illegalization, labelling someone Islamophobic, holier than thou, far
right, bible thumper – you get the idea. Of course, then as we see across the world, in other parts of it, people are beaten, ravaged, burned, beheaded, killed for confessing Christ. I am not sure American Christians
are ready for all that yet… but if trends are any indicator of it coming to our soil, we better get ready!

To help us do just that, here is a simple devotional for us to read, study, and put into practice in preparation for persecution:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

Persecution is not a sign of failure—it’s often a mark of faithfulness. Jesus never promised a life free of
hardship; in fact, He warned that following Him would invite opposition. But He also promised that we
would never face it alone. Whether it’s ridicule, rejection, or outright hostility, persecution tests the depth
of our trust in God. It reveals whether our faith is rooted in comfort or in Christ. The challenge is not just
to endure persecution, but to respond to it in a way that reflects the heart of Jesus. This begs a question:
How can we respond to persecution in a godly way?

Stay Anchored in Truth: Be sure you know what you believe and why. Persecution often targets uncertainty, so meditate on Scripture daily, letting God’s Word shape your perspective and know what to expect.
Don’t forget that the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17a), and swords are defensive
weapons used to stave off the enemy…. Remember, Jesus responded to Satan’s attacks with Scripture.
(Matthew 4:1–11)

Respond with Grace, Not Retaliation: Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. (Matthew 5:44) I know this is easier said than done; however, imagine if you saw your enemies
and or God’s enemies from Jesus’ point of view. How we respond to them could change everything! Besides I am sure you know that grace disarms hostility. And remember the example of Stephen, while being
stoned, he prayed for his persecutors. (Acts 7:60)

Rejoice in Your Identity: When the world or those who belong to it, they are identifying with the god of this
world, that is the devil. Not only do they reveal who they belong to, but their persecution of you also likewise confirms your identity as a child of God, that you belong to Christ and not this world. Remember,
you’re not alone – prophets, apostles, and Jesus Himself were persecuted. The apostles rejoiced after being flogged, “counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name.” (Acts 5:41)

Lean into the Church community: Isolation magnifies suffering, but fellowship strengthens resolve. Share
your burdens with trusted believers who will pray for and encourage you to “stay the course!” Think about Paul who often wrote from prison, yet was sustained by the prayers and support of the church. Remember what Peter wrote: “Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are
being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while,
the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm,
strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:9-10) After all “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if
one member is honored, all rejoice together.” (1 Corinthians 12:26)

Keep an Eternal Perspective: Earthly suffering is temporary; but eternal glory is forever. Your reward is
not in escaping persecution, but in enduring it faithfully, even overcoming it’s evils with good! Apostle
Paul, who knows both sides of persecution was led by the Holy Spirit to record “Our present sufferings
are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

I do not like to put words (especially prayers) in the mouths of others; nevertheless, this is an excellent
prayer when you are being persecuted (at whatever level it may be):
Father, when I face persecution, help me to respond with grace and truth. Remind me that I am not alone,
and that You are my defender and strength. Give me courage to stand firm, wisdom to speak with love,
and peace that surpasses understanding. May my life reflect Your glory even in the fire. Amen.

Pastor D.L. Barnett

How is the Dirt in Your Life By Mike Jenkins, Spiritual Ministry Team Member

Posted on Dec 4, 2025 in BLOG |

In Matthew 13:6-9, Jesus told the parable of a farmer sowing seed. The seed that fell on good soil produced a good
crop of a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Most of the time, I think this is talking about sowing the
Good News of Jess Christ to an unbeliever and they get saved. Which is true, but in Matthew 13:23, it says that the
person with good soil that hears the word and understands it produces the good crop. I believe this means the person that understands the word, goes out and teaches others the Good News, then those people go and spread the
word (multiplication). There are all kinds of seeds from the Word of God that need to be sown into your life. How is
the dirt in your life? Is it ready to have some good seed sown into it?

A farmer spends a lot of time and money preparing the ground for the next year’s crop. It needs to be tilled, declodded, and smoothed out so that when the seed is sown, it will have the best chance to germinate and get a good
root system. What are you doing to prepare your heart (ground) for the next seed that will be sown into your life?
You can’t always pray for everyone else, sometimes you need to pray a personal prayer just for yourself.

One of the things that we need to do is have a personal prayer time with the Lord every day. I sometimes refer to a
personal prayer as a selfish prayer, just between you and the Lord, Jesus Christ. A good way to practice this until you
have developed your own prayers, is to take prayers that are in the Bible and make them personal. Even the Lord’s
Prayer( the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 9). “My Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your
kingdom come Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give me this day my daily bread and forgive me of my
sins, as I have forgiven those who have sinned against me, and lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.
Amen. There are many other prayers in the new and old testaments that can be personalized. If you are reading the
Word and come across one, just stop, make it personal and pray it into your life.

You need to learn to talk or pray to Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord as a friend. Yes, He is great and mighty, and we
are just humans, but remember He loves you and you love Him. He wants to talk to you and bless you. He says, “Ask
me for wisdom, it is better than riches.” As we are in the last days, we are going to need strength, confidence, wisdom, discernment, and many other things like – good health.

Heavenly Father, in Jesus name, strengthen our faith, help us to know You better. Help us to tell thers about Your
great love for us. Show us when Satan is trying to deceive us, please and cultivate our lives so we can receive Your
Word and understand it. Amen.

Now take all the “our, us, and we’s” out of the prayer and use ”my, me, and I”. Get it?

Courage by Sharon Fowler, Spiritual Ministry Team Member

Posted on Oct 24, 2025 in BLOG |

What does courage mean and what does it look like when put into practice? According to the Webster Dictionary, courage means, “the Quality of being brave; valor.” So then, what does courage look like? It could look like people volunteering to make sure congregants are safe while they worship; or paramedics who rush to the scene of an accident not knowing if it will be someone they know; or it could look like a 5 year old child diagnosed with cancer and battling chemo but keeps hoping that tomorrow will be better; or it could look like the person who gets daily death threats but continues to go out proclaiming the love of Jesus to thousands anyway. Courage is speaking truth.

I had never had the privilege of meeting Charlie Kirk, but I felt I knew him through watching his show, clips of
his campus rallies, and some of the numerous interviews he did. I truly admired his courage and what happened
to him on September 10th affected me more than I thought it would. His assassination has lit a fire in me as I
hope it did in all of you. Charlies’s definition of courage was, “Doing the right thing when you don’t know how
it’s going to work out. Courage is committing yourself to the correct course of action regardless of the cost
associated to it.” He said in an interview he wanted to be remembered for his courage for his faith. Is what
you believe worth dying for? Charlie did.

How many times have we heard this question, “What has happened to this world?” That’s actually the wrong
question. The question should be, “What has happened to the salt and light?” We, as believers, can no longer stay on the sidelines, or remain spectator Christians. Curtis Bowers said, “For far too long, Christians have been lukewarm, fence-sitters, and ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” At some point, believers have to open their mouths and verbally share the message of Jesus. We need to get busy and grow in our walk with the Lord. We need to maximize this time, this opportunity – let’s not waste it.

Let’s revisit what it means to be salt and light. As salt, we preserve a world that would otherwise be under the
destructive rule of Satan and enslaved to sin. We preserve the world for enough time that God’s purposes
can be worked out. As light, we expose the darkness for what it is – and that’s why the world hates us. We
aren’t preserving or exposing anything by sitting passively in our livingrooms. With what Jesus did for us on
the cross, how can we possible stay quiet. (Is. 52:14; Is. 53).

Several years ago, Jack Hibbs sat down with Dr. ED Hindson and David Hocking for a conversation while
at a convention. Part of their conversation was on how the church is silent. They said Satan is always looking for a void, a vacuum. If Christians aren’t going to stand up and speak about Jesus, then maybe some group, like the Muslims, are going to talk about Jesus. Islam is seizing the moment to get their foot in the door to proclaim their Jesus and their Jesus is not the same as ours. When Jesus said to occupy until He comes, (Luke 19:13), He didn’t say to take a seat. He meant to get out into the world and preach the gospel (Matt. 28:18-20). But, while everyone else is coming out of the closet, the Christians are going into the closet. They’re hiding, just waiting it out until the return of Christ.

Being a Bible believing follower of Jesus Christ will cost you and if it doesn’t, you might be doing something wrong.
In her book, “When Culture Hates You” by Natash Crain, she said, “We here in America have been comfortable.
We don’t have a clue what real Christian persecution is. But, everything is changing now. If we expect comfort to
continue, despite what’s going on around us, we are fooling ourselves.” For some, the death of Charlie Kirk might
just be shaking that “comfortable” out of us. (2Tim.3:12). We need to be continually mindful that we are accountable to God, not man. Someday we will stand before God and answer for the choices we made during our time here
on earth (Rom. 14:10-12).

And, if you think you can’t be used by God, think again. Look at Moses for instance – God uses crooked sticks to
draw straight lines. We all have a calling. It’s your job to find out what that calling is and then do it. Charlie did
great things in great ways. We may not be able to do the things he did, but we can do great things in small ways.
When’s the last time you sent a “thinking of you” card or text message? When’s the last time you called to “checkup” on someone who you haven’t seen or heard from in awhile? Or gone out to lunch with someone to share the
gospel, or let someone know you’re praying for them? That act of kindness that you do for someone may seem insignificant to you, but it may be a big deal to the person receiving it.

So let’s circle back to the word “courage”. Do you have the courage to say, “Here I am Lord, send me”(Is.6:8). Will
we hear the words from our Lord, “Well done good and faithful servant.” Courage is you and me picking up our
torches nd running into the darkness, running to the lost, to proclaim the love of Jesus and what He did for us on
the cross. Courage is doing what’s right and leaving the results to God.

(I encourage you to watch or listen to Matthew West’s song “Do Something”.)

Pastor’s Pen

Posted on Oct 17, 2025 in BLOG |

The Christian Attrition

The term attrition has 5 usages in the English language. According to Webster’s and the Cambridge dictionary shares the following:

1: sorrow for one’s sins that arises from a motive other than that of the love of God
2: the act of wearing or grinding down by friction
3: the act of weakening or exhausting by constant harassment, abuse, or attack
4: a reduction in numbers usually as a result of resignation, retirement, or death
5: the people who leave an educational or training course before it has finished

Now, maybe I am a bit sensitive to the shrinking reality our community faces these days, however – I have notice a trend. Less businesses, a decrease in population, shrinking congregations and church attendance, a lack of interest in going to bible study and Sunday school, a decrease in students enrolling in Christian schools in our area…. the list can go on.

I got to thinking – is it just a sign of the times? Is it that the difference between being nominal or surrendered? Is it that discipleship is just not happening? Is it that Satan seem’s to be winning? Is it a priorities issue? Is it we are so ingrained with the world’s systems that we treat Christianity as a welfare system? I would venture to say a little of all of this, but it is deeper – it was prophesied by the Apostle Paul that this was going to happen – attrition among Christians. Look at the following verses:

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

The Greek term for rebellion here is apostasia. It means defection from the truth, falling away, and forsake. Its root definition means something separative, that is, specifically divorce.

1 Timothy 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

Here the Greek term for abandon is aphistēmi. It means to remove, that is actively instigate a revolt, to desist, desert, depart, fall away, withdraw self. Its root definition means cessation, separation, departure, reversal from abiding, standing, covenant, continuing.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

And this verse contains what the characteristics of those who defect and depart from truth – even to instigate others to do so. Then they follow falsehood, demonic teachings, and become selfish and just plain narcissistic in every facet of life.

It occurred to me that part of the Christian attrition is due to the prophetic reality in which we live, but also that the selfish part is entering into the equation in the following ways:

a consumer mindset – what I get out of it more than what I put into it.

a self-centered purpose – using God for our own purposes instead of asking Him His purpose for us.

personal fulfillment – seeking fulfillment in what can give verse finding fulfillment in God.

prayers centered around decisions – seeking God’s direction and bless what we already made our mind up about.

It may seem harsh – but this is the spiritual reality we are facing today. What can be done to prevent this Christian attrition, to stay the course, to not become part of the tragic statistic?

It goes back to what Jesus said: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:1-2) He also said “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And Jesus also said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'” (Luke 13:7-9)

I also recently ran across devotional Adrian Rogers – and wow did it cut me to the heart like a pruning tool. I believe I have shared recently either at church and or elsewhere.

Commitment to Surrender. “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10)

“I was in Romania talking with my translator, Pastor Joseph, and said, “You’ve been to America many times. Tell me about American Christianity.” He said, “The key word in American Christianity is commitment. Commitment is a relatively new word in the United States. It can be found in some dictionaries, but it came into usage in the 60s and American Christians have gotten stronger and stronger in using the word commitment.” I asked, “What’s wrong with commitment?” He said, “When a new word comes in, it always replaces an old word. I searched to find the old word that commitment has replaced. The old word is surrender.”

In commitment, you decide what you’re going to do and commit yourself to it. When you surrender, you lift both hands and say, “I’m under Your control.” Do you see the difference? In commitment, you’re in control. In surrender, God’s in control. He is the King and He is supreme. We simply say, “Your kingdom come; Your will be done. I am under your control.”

What are some ways you have sought control? What are some things you need to surrender to God? What does it look like to live in daily surrender to God?”

There is no doubt that we need to surrender to God’s, His pruning so we can grow, bear fruit, and not fade into the obscurity of Christian attrition.

By Jesus’ Grace,

Choose Today Whom You Will Serve by Ronda Cooper

Posted on Sep 19, 2025 in BLOG |

The Influencer (Man) spoke:
Culture has profound effects on gender-related behavior, values, identity, roles, and how these are regarded in
various social contexts. Culture governs the socialization of children, the tasks children are taught, the roles adult
men and women adopt, and the expectations that govern women’s and men’s attitudes and behaviors. Ruth Wienclaw.

The God of the Bible speaks thru His servant Moses: “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—
that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over,
to possess it, that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes
and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as
the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You
shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by
the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as
frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deut.6:1-9

You must choose whom you will follow: the Lord or man!
Psalm 33:3-4 For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is trustworthy.
The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His loving devotion.

Upright: with moral integrity being honest-trustworthy, with adherence to God’s laws-obedient.
Righteousness: the quality of moral uprightness, purity- aligning with the will of God and this can only be obtained through faith- a life changing gift from God that inwardly changes the heart, there by transforming the
person.
This is a Hebrew term “Yashar” that means both physically and morally living a life pleasing to God. Walking a
straight path: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 There is only one path that leads to righteousness and that
can only be seen by those walking in His light!

You are now that light, we are now that light: and the leveling of our path comes through our heart, the valleys
are lifted up and our mountains are made low. These are the transformations that arise from hearing the truth:
acknowledging that truth and believing that anything is possible with the Lord.

Psalm 33:8-9 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him.
For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.
This leaves no question of his power and his authority! Genesis 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and
there was light.

Enough Said!
A sinner who has been saved should not quiver with fear when asked by the Lord to step up and step out to
speak for and defend the weak and the oppressed! Our lives should now be full of thanksgiving and praise
and filled with the burden (s) of those yet held captive in this world: especially our children!

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!
We are grafted into the vine, Jesus being the vine: and we are now a part of Israel-her spiritual side, and as
such we are a part of the kingdom of God. We are a nation God has raised up for himself. As his sons and
daughters we must walk alongside our Lord into the belly of the beast, and fight, to bring out of that place of
darkness: our children.
They may be children that we may not get to see face to face; but who are a part of our community, our state,
our nation, and from these very places there has risen up an army of darkness that desires to kill, maim, and destroy what God has said was ‘very good,’ by turning them away from any hope of salvation, of reconciliation
and eternal life.

Proverbs 31:8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Remember that being destitute does not always speak only of monetary value but of spiritually being without hope!

The article below was written to make people aware, now that school is about to begin, of the many days that
are added on to many school calendars as ‘days of observance. Many of these days will be pushed by the
sexual revolutions agenda to keep and make captive all who walk thru the doors of the public school systems.
I would encourage you to go to MissionAmerica.com and read for yourself the entirety of the article and to
read the articles that are mentioned as reference and information; then share them with someone who is captive to the public school system.

I encourage you to make note of the days mentioned and of the need- on those specific days; for true believers to come together and intentionally be in prayer on those days against the forces of evil: asking for God’s
protection to cover the hearts and minds of those at the mercy of this wickedness.

Let us turn over the table that our children are being set upon and stop the enemy’s consumption of them!

The best way to win this war, to reclaim these souls; is on our knees! Let us pray that when Jesus returns that
is where he will find us, crying out to him for the salvation of those yet in the captivity of our enemy-the devil!

Keep this list in your prayer area, and remember to pray against these dark forces and their lies, deceit and deceptions!

For what will you say to the Lord when you stand before him and he asks-why you chose to sit this one out?
There will be no answer (s) to draw from; for your faith: will have said it all!

School Corruption & Propaganda Calendar: Mission America.com ALERT!!!!! School Year 2025-26

Are you sick of your children being subjected to incessant, inaccurate and dangerous messages enlisting their support
for—or worse, their involvement in — homosexuality or gender deviance? And often now, this indoctrination will be
interwoven with racism lessons, as if sexual immorality is similar.

Many schools allow or even celebrate these reckless, inaccurate messages on certain days and weeks during the academic calendar. Your children in class will usually have no choice except to endure rainbow posters, library displays,
cafeteria tables, special speakers/ assemblies, classroom lessons and school announcements promoting the following
events.

Bisexual Awareness Week (Bi Week)– September 16- 23 2025
Banned Books Week—October 5 – 11, 2025.
LGBTQ History Month—Month of October 2025
“Coming Out” Day – October 11—2025
Indigenous People’s Day (sometimes substituted for Columbus Day)– Monday, October 13, 2025
International Pronouns Day, October 15, 2025.
Spirit Day, October 16, 2025, sponsored by GLAAD.
Solidarity Week (formerly Ally Week), 2025
Transgender Awareness Week, November 13-19, 2025.
Transgender Day of Remembrance— November 20, 2025
No Name-Calling Week, January 19-23, 2026
National Day of Reading (promoting gender confusion) –end of February 2026 ( date to be announced
Black History Month– all of February.2026
Transgender Day of Visibility— March 31, 2026
Day of (no) Silence— April 2026 ( date to be announced
International Day against Homophobia, Trans- phobia, and Bi-phobia– May 2026 ( specific date not confirmed).
Harvey Milk Day –May 22, 2026.
“LGBTQ” Pride Month – June 2026.

It’s time to overcome evil with good.

Pastor’s Pen by D.L. Barnett

Posted on Sep 5, 2025 in BLOG |

The Christian Attrition

The term attrition has 5 usages in the English language. According to Webster’s and the Cambridge dictionary shares the following:

1: sorrow for one’s sins that arises from a motive other than that of the love of God

2: the act of wearing or grinding down by friction

3: the act of weakening or exhausting by constant harassment, abuse, or attack

4: a reduction in numbers usually as a result of resignation, retirement, or death

5: the people who leave an educational or training course before it has finished

I would venture to say a little of all of this, but it is deeper – it was prophesied by the Apostle Paul that this was going to happen – attrition among Christians. Look at the following verses:

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

The Greek term for rebellion here is apostasia. It means defection from the truth, falling away, and forsake. Its root definition means something separative, that is, specifically divorce.

1 Timothy 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

Here the Greek term for abandon is aphistēmi. It means to remove, that is actively instigate a revolt, to desist, desert, depart, fall away, withdraw self. Its root definition means cessation, separation, departure, reversal from abiding, standing, covenant, continuing.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Spiritual Ministry Team Letter By Makayla Nepp

Posted on Aug 22, 2025 in BLOG |

Deuteronomy 32:1-6

Then Moses spoke the world of this song until they were finished, in the ears of all the assembly of Israel:

“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation. Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?”

An apologetics segment on Deuteronomy 32:6:

One of the three distinct yet coequal persons within the Trinity, God as Father surfaces in the OT as a title or in reference to His relationship with Israel:

Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O Lord, you are our Father.”

Jeremiah 3:19 “And I thought you would call me, My Father, and would not turn from following me.”

Jeremiah 31:9 “I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.”

When Jesus appeared, both He and the NT writers referred to the Father, the Son, and the Spirit much more distinctly. The phrase God the Father occurs between 15 and 20 times in the NT, depending on which translation is used. In many instances where God the Father is mentioned, Jesus Christ is mentioned in the same verse.

God the Father and the Trinity. The coming of the Son, prophesied in the OT and fulfilled in the NT, highlights the distinction between Father and Son in the Trinity. The revelation found in the NT allows us to see God the Father with greater clarity in the OT. In the NT, God most often means “God the Father”-where He is seen as the authority or creative force behind the work on the Trinity. The creation story illustrates this in the division of labor between Father, Son, and Spirit. God (the Father) spoke the creation decrees (“Let there be”‘ Ps. 33:6) while God the Spirit hovered over the unformed earth (Gen 1:1,2). But God the Son was the agent of creation who carried out the Father’s decrees (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1,2).

God the Father and Jesus Christ. The Father’s authoritative role is also made clear in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son.” The Father put in motion the activity needed to grant redemption to sinful humanity; the Son came to earth to carry out the plan. After that work was accomplished, the Father sent the Holy Spirit to indwell those who embraced the offer of redemption: “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name” (John 14:26).

In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul confirms that Christ was “in the form of God” and possessed “equality with God” but willingly took on “the form of a servant” and “the likeness off men.” Christ “humbled himself by becoming obedient” to the Father by dying on the cross. The Son’s obedience and loyalty to the Father are pictured also in the temptation experience in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-11) and in Christ’s absolute submission to the Father during His earthly life and ministry (John 4:34; 5:19, 30; 6:38; 8:28, 42; 10:37, 38; 12:49; 14:10, 31; 15:10; 17:4). Christ’s humble obedience to the Father’s will provides an example for how Christians should relate to God, their heavenly Father.

God the Father and Christians. The Fatherhood of God is about more than just obedience; it highlights the love of God as well. Jesus was the first to refer to God as “Abba, Father” (Mark 14:36), Abba being an Aramaic word of endearment. The apostle Paul picked up Jesus’ reference to God as Abba, saying that every Christain enjoys the intimate privilege of calling God “Abba” (Rom 8:15). The idea that Christians have been “adopted” by God into His family, as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, further deepens our understanding of God as Father (Rom. 8:15, 23,29; Gal 4:5; Eph 1:5).

The same God who spoke the world into existence and sacrificed His only Son is the same Father who knows and meets the needs of all of His adopted children.

Pastor’s Pen by Pastor D.L. Barnett

Posted on Aug 15, 2025 in BLOG |

WHAT YOU BELIEVE JESUS MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE!

Galatians 1:6-10 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel– not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Now, it may be a blinding flash of the obvious, but that is not the same with everyone who calls themselves a Christian. Paul was facing a confrontation dilemma of eternal necessity. Some men were twisting around the good news to fit what they thought, not what God was telling them through Paul. People were skipping out left and right when some men started to proclaim something more, perverted, wrenched and distorted from the simple devotion to Jesus Christ and the good news of His coming, His death, His burial and His resurrection…. Why is it always the case – people complicate the simplest of things. Religious people add and surmise and bring into the Bible and the Truth so many things that just take away from the fact that all have sinned, all fall short, all need saved, and those that call on the name of Jesus will be saved.

I have been reading and studying other denomination’s and cult’s material that they add to the Bible, as equally authoritative. You wouldn’t believe, and I hope you never do, the crazy things they claim about Jesus who they think He is – things Jesus never would have said or it never would have entered His mind.

One false-work states that Father God was once a man and became a God. Another stated that Jesus’ body and blood are literally present in the bread and the wine. Others state we will one day become god’s and goddess’s just like the Father… co-creators of our own worlds and planets.

I read of rituals for “sealing” forever marriages, and baptisms for the dead, Michael the archangel became Adam, and ordinances of special endowments to be priests and vows and the list goes on…. None of which are in the Word of God.

Yet, by the thousands, and millions – people that once turned to Jesus turned to these extras, these twisted “prophetic” revelations that supersede Jesus’ Words. Many have claimed “angels” came and showed them golden tablets in the 1800’s, others in the 1900’s claimed God is an alien, even another claims they got “angelic” messages regarding moon rocks, and today – the legalists claim they are better Christians because they adhere to the laws of Moses, and still others claim you cannot eat certain foods, marry those not approved by the hierarchy or outside their denomination, some consider their denomination or cult like organization the true restored church, and all others between the 1st century until 18th century are apostate. Even one says they are the mother church. Today we have one claiming angel feathers fall on them and gold dust does too, as they worship.

Paul was right – people follow “their Jesus” – and others exploit that! I was pondering a question asked, regarding working with or interacting with the types of individuals Paul described – here is question: What would Jesus say to them about what they think about Him, and about those who compromise to please men rather than God?

How about you? What would Jesus say about what you believe about Him? Does it line up with what He says about who He is? And how much do you compromise to please men rather than God?

Pastor’s Pen by Pastor D.L. Barnett

Posted on Aug 1, 2025 in BLOG |

Yep – we are in the full swing of summer…. heat,
humidity, storms, rain and repeat. Many are in vacation
mode and looking forward to much needed rest, but as
you know with vacations – preparation and planning,
traveling and coming home all take a toll. This time of
year, I always think of the day ahead when we all are
gathered together with Jesus, and the realization of all
the heat of work, the humidity of heart, the storms of
life, the raining downpours of low points, and the
repeating cycle of ups and many downs.
I want to give you all the word of encouragement the
LORD gives me each summer, when the vacation time
seems to take forever to get there and the saying “I
need a vacation from vacation” is real!
Too many times, we feel the guilt of rest. It is difficult
for us to be still, to rest, and not feel bad about it,
because of the fallacy of believing a busy person makes
one valuable. BUT – that is not God given guilt, it is a
satanic attack!
Think about it – at least for me, when I take time away,
it takes me two or three days to declutter my thoughts
and just enjoy the “going up to mountain” moment I
have before me, after travel and the vacation
destination is reached. Without fail invading concerns
and yes worries about what I am going to come home
to, preoccupy me. Almost like I feel I can’t let them go
or everything will fall apart.
Maybe it’s a prideful thing, or a savior complex, or just
the reality of this life on earth, but it robs me of rest,
relaxation, and refreshing. I know it is cliché’, but hey –
the LORD did say through Peter, “stay casting ALL your
anxieties (distractions soliciting your attention, cares,
disunited thoughts) on Him, because He cares for you”.
Jesus Himself after ministering daily “And after he had
dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by
himself to pray. When evening came, he was there
alone.” “And after he had taken leave of them, he went
up on the mountain to pray.”
If even Jesus took time to rest, pray, be away – and
never sinned, there can be no sin in taking time away….
So, this encouraged me to not feel guilty about setting
things down and aside in the proper times.

BUT, are we to remain at rest, never re-engaging, to have life
of ease, pain-free, not at work, not serving? NO, a thousand
times NO!! Too much time away – one gets used to being idle,
slothful, lazy, unproductive…. Didn’t Jesus say, “I chose you
and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that
your fruit should abide”? And doesn’t His Word say through
Paul “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for
good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should
walk in them.” And not to mention “For we hear that some
among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but
busybodies”, “that if any would not work, neither should he
eat.”
This to encouraged me – after the vacation get back to the
vocation. We are told to rest, and we are told to work.
Nowhere does it say we are to remain on permanent vacation
on this side of heaven.
What are the common areas people seem to take “permanent
vacations”? That’s easy – it is usually not from a job when they
need money, though that seems to be rising these days…. It is
often from serving, giving, ministering. It is rarely from hobbies
and habits; but rather of the very works God has for us that
produce fruit, that are spiritually productive, and most often it
is from knowing what God wants us busy about not what keeps
us to busy and distracted from the things of God and even
sometimes from God Himself.
Anway, remember – take your rest when God says and it is
needed; BUT don’t forget get back to work when God says and
it is needed.
Learning to Vacation so I can Bless in Vocation,
Much Love and Prayer,

Time ~ By Ann Krause, Spiritual Ministry Team Member

Posted on Jul 3, 2025 in BLOG |

Focus…yes, I need to…squirrel! What was I doing? No, I have to do this instead…I’ll be her in a minute. When I have time – if I have time…I’ll think about it…not today but maybe later…as soon as I finish this, I’ll come help…I’ll get there as soon as I can…

Time – how many times each day do we mention time, or our lack of, or the quickness in which is passes or how much we have to do within the time limitations we have? And on and on….

When we are young, our time passages are related to events that occur at certain times – Christmas, the weekend, the summer, the start and end of school, our birthday…but as we age, and more time passes, those markers of time change: our children sleeping through the night changes to us not sleeping until they get home; their first day of school changes to graduating to adulthood and managing themselves; find a job that can comfortably support a family to retiring and being able to support a comfortable life.

The amount of time in each day, month and year never changes – just our focus for that time – whether outward or inward, forward or reviewing – we have what we have, and what our Lord ordains.

So…now that we have our allotted time, just what are your plans to utilize that time? To whom will you focus your time? To what will your efforts of time be used for? Where will you spend your time? Why have you chosen what you have chosen to expend you time on?

Some key scriptural principles:

Prioritize God’s will – Matthew 6:33

Be mindful of time – manage it well – Ephesians 5:15-16

Live intentionally – Psalms 90:12

Recognize God’s sovereignty – Psalms 31:15

Avoid worry – Matthew 6:34

Utilize time effectively – Colossians 4:5

Serve God with diligence – Proverbs 16:3

Practice Godliness – 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Lord, God, thank You for each moment of each day. Help me to utilize my time to best serve Your plans in my life. Help me to take time to listen to Your leading and to work to follow Your call. May I be generous with my time to others in need and gracious as I tend to needs before me. Help me not to rush through my tasks, but to rejoice in the opportunity and ability to perform those tasks. Thank You, Lord, for the time You have given to me today, now, at this moment. Amen