In our day, things that God detests abound and even things that make Jesus sick…. Sadly, it is not just the world, but it is among His people. The following passages, I just cannot shake. The first passage comes from the wisdom literature of the Old Testament.

Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:

haughty eyes – this is the arrogant looks and see themselves higher than they really are – this is psychopathic narcissism

a lying tongue – untruths, feigned words, false presentations in what they say – this is pathological falsehood

hands that shed innocent blood – bloodthirsty and enjoys slaughter of innocence – this is sadistic torture

a heart that devises wicked plans – schemes and texturing of narratives and imaginations – this is premeditated sabotage to emotionally manipulate

feet that hastily run to evil – a hunger for argument and adversity and causing distress – this is looking to cause problems

a false witness who breathes out lies – sham recorder and feigned testimony – this is perjury for selfish ends and framing

one who sows discord among brothers – causes fights, strife, quarrels, contention in relations – this is controlling and causing relational break down

 The second passage comes from the apocalyptic Scripture from the New Testament.

Revelation 3:14-16  “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

If you did not guess it, the word used by Jesus when telling John what to write down is vomit. It makes Jesus sick when Christians that bear His name are lukewarm! When indifference sets into the hearts, minds and lives of His people…

 If you these place these two passages of the Word of God side by side – you can see the characteristics of what I call a spiritual psycho-sociopathic narcissist. Think about it! Thinks to highly of themselves, willing to hurts others and harm others relationships, has no problems pinning one against another to control situations, has hidden plans and schemes to manipulate emotions, feign charm and testimony to twist and skew things in their direction or favor and then have no empathy, concern or care – indifference towards how things have affect as long as they get what they want and need.

So, in an age that is full of these hated attitudes and actions – really a prophesied increase of wickedness and self-centeredness that Jesus and Paul warned us about, do not let your love grow cold… do not give up doing good, and do not repay evil with evil… rather speak the truth in love, expose the deeds of darkness, stand firm in the Word of God and do not lose heart by becoming bitter…. Satan is attempting to wear out the saints. Remember, in the end God wins! The wicked perish and the false are made known…

Praying Deeply and Standing in the Lord,

Pastor D. L. Barnett

I find myself, at that point in my life, between working through choices of getting myself through the day and those of getting myself right for the day.  This time of the year for us reminds me of life’s uncertainties and that we are promised strength for each day, whatever that day brings, when we rest in the promises of our Lord.

Our choices never end from the moment we rise in the morning until we rest our head on the pillow at night.  What to wear?  What to eat? Did the laundry get put in the dryer? Do I have gas in the car?  What do I need to do first at work?  What and who do I need to address or can it wait?  What do I say – What don’t I say?  Did I get the clothes in the dryer?

Unfortunately, we may have forgotten to ask the more important questions:

Who need to hear words of encouragement?

How can I best be Jesus to someone?

How can I speak truth in honest, loving ways and how do I show Jesus’ love with those who don’t know Him or want to know Him?

Help me speak truth in honest, loving ways and may my actions reflet your hands, Jesus.  Align my thoughts with Your will, Lord.  Help me remember that you have this, Lord, and it is written for us to reference when we need it.

Let’s: Open our Bibles, rest in His word, obey His commandments, speak His truth, walk in His path, listen with a discerning heart, and reach out in His love –Love God, Love others.

By Ann Krause,

Spiritual Ministry Team Member

So, I have been pondering… I have been seeking… I have been praying… asking the LORD some questions. Those life questions that keep a man up at night and those deep questions that everyone will face someday.

How long do I have left on this earth?

What Biblical prophecies will I get to see come to fruition?

Have I been the man God wants me to be?

What does God really think about me?

What do my wife, my kids, my friends, my congregation really think of me?

Have I been a good husband, father, friend, pastor?

What will God have me doing in the foreseeable future?

Have I really made an impact for Jesus?

Have the things I said and the things I have done pleasing to the LORD?

Maybe this is all vanity, but I know that one day I will stand before Holy God Almighty and give an account… as it is written:

Matthew 12:36-37  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

2 Corithians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Hebrews 9:27  ….as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment

 I think it is a good and godly thing to seriously consider the questions that bring us to place of humble circumspection about ourselves and ask God to help us in that introspection. A passage that Paul recorded in the New Testament really keeps things in perspective:

1 Corinthians 11:31-32 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

I know I don’t what to be found wanting when I die or Jesus returns – whichever comes first. And I believe that the Bible is clear about confession, honesty and integrity and judgement. If one deals rightly in this matter before the day of account as they stand before the LORD, what has been dealt with here on earth, letting the LORD judge me now, these things will not be part of that day of account.

Letting the LORD Look Deep in My Heart, and I am praying you are too….

Luke 21:34-36  “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

This life is full of heaviness…. and often many seek to lighten the burden through things that only temporarily ease the strain; yet more times than not these very things increase the weight. What is even worse – they dull the spiritual senses, leave a person trapped and distracted.

In the verse above it refers to the heart being weighed down. The word weighed down in the Biblical Greek means overcharged, burdened, grievous and heavy. The term heart means not just the physical heart but the thoughts, feelings, and mind plus being broken hearted.

I can’t help but notice that three things cause a heavy-hearted brokenness in one’s life: dissipation, drunkenness and the cares of this life.

   Dissipation means literally a headache or seizure of pain from debauched( that is to corrupt by intemperance or sensuality and or to lead away from virtue or excellence) surfeiting (that is an intemperate or immoderate indulgence in something such as food or drink and or disgust caused by excess) gluttony. 

 Makes one think of having to loosen their belt after a Thanksgiving meal because they ate so much it hurts or a hangover headache from overindulgence of alcohol, caffeine laden drinks or anything over consumed that has a side effect of a headache or pain.

Drunkenness means any intoxicant- and just so happens the Greek word is methē. Makes one think of meth. SO obviously it is more than just beer and booze, it is anything that intoxicates a person from overuse or misuse.

Cares of this life means through the idea of distraction and solicitude (that is the state of being in excessive concern and anxious, eager uneasiness of mind lest some desired thing may not be obtained or some apprehended evil may happen). Makes one think of a person so worried and fearful of something going wrong and bad things coming in the future or not getting something they want and the current rise of anxiety in people today.

These three things all prevent a person from being ready for Jesus’ return…. I think we can even be so worried about the state of the world or so enamored by the world that we become heavy laden and spiritually sleepy.

How about you?

Prayerfully and Lovingly Yours, By Jesus’ Grace,

Pastor Daren Lee Barnett

How many of us are content? Many struggle with this, always looking for the next best thing that we think will make us happy but once we have it or the newness wears off, we are once again discontent.  We need to slow down and realize that being closer to God, being happy with what we have and realizing what is truly important will bring us contentment. When you have a complaint, remember all your blessings!

I read the following and it really hit home.  “Don’t let your prayers become an exercise in worrying on your knees!  Always keep in mind the blessings in your life that God gives you every single day.  Give him thanks for everything he has done for you.  Bring your concerns to God knowing that you will receive peace from Him.  Contentment comes from the strength we receive from Christ.  Learn to be content even when you are facing difficult circumstances by being thankful and grateful and giving your worries over to Christ.

Hebrews 135: tells us that we are to be content with what we have.  Paul went through horrible persecution and suffering, but he was able to face his trials due to his contentment in Christ. In Philippians 4:12-13 Paul said “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Here are some steps to a contented life from the teaching of Paul:

*Give thanks in all things.

*Rest in God’s Word

*Learn to be satisfied with little.

*Learn to live above life’s circumstances.

*Rely on God’s power.

*Become preoccupied with the well-being of others.

With everything happening in the world today it can be difficult to be content but studying God’s word, praying and keeping Jesus front and center in our lives will help us face these trials.  Christ promises strength for today!

By Melissa King

Spiritual Ministry Team Member

I recently read this for my morning devotions and it struck me that too often people miss what God has called them to do…. And a friend of mine sent me this following quote around same time I was reading the devotional below:

“There are two great days in our lives…. The day we are born and they day we know why we were born.”

I would like to actually put right in the middle of these two great days, the greatest day – the day we are born again. I hope the devotional below strikes you deeply at the heart and effects change in your calling from the Lord.

“He called ten of His servants….” (Luke 19:13)

Have you ever been in a place where the phone kept ringing and nobody answered it? In moments like that it seems everybody is busy with something else, assuming that somebody else will answer the call. But nobody does. After awhile it can get to be quite annoying. There is something irritating about an incessant, unanswered call.

Over the years I have noticed a similar thing in the lives of many people — a call that is not being answered. A call from God. Busy with so many other things, and sure that the call is for someone else, many men loose themselves in trivial moments and miss the momentous opportunity to answer the call of God on their lives. Have you answered the call?

Missing out on God’s call for your life would be the worst thing that could happen. Research shows that one of the greatest fears men face is having lived a meaningless life; a life that didn’t matter; a life that made no difference. This dreadful thought haunts even the most accomplished of individuals. Maybe it haunts you even now.

Os Guinness wrote, “Our passion is to know that we are fulfilling the purpose for which we are on earth. All other standards of success—wealth, power, position, knowledge, and friendships—all grow tiny and hollow if we do not satisfy this deeper longing.”

Each of us long to know that our lives counted; that we accomplished what we were put on this earth to do. Yet, in an odd contradiction, nothing is more common than unrealized potential. Most of us settle for far less than we are capable of being, and of doing. On the one hand we want our lives to count; on the other hand, we seem far too willing to become marginalized into mediocrity. Our only hope is to answer the call of God upon our lives.

 Now, I took this to heart and came up with some practical things that I have begun to apply to my life that are helping me realize the potential God has called me to:

Less Entertainment and More Learning Engagement. Choose prayer, visiting others, reading, documentaries and podcasts over movies, social media and television programs. Non-fiction is far greater than Fiction.

Pick Productive Hobbies instead of Mundane Activities. Some things are mindless, and others are mind-filling, find ones that produce and promote skill and growth that benefits your life and others lives. Eg: Bible Study

Grow in Your Vocations Skills and Development in Your Calling. Nothing better than a man “working as unto the Lord”…. Christians should be the best, most productive and knowledgeable in the call and work God has put them in.

Expand Your Vocations. It has been said “I am a jack of all trades and master of none”…. I attempt to become master of many trades, as to be not only help but a better leader. Take for instance a man named Kevin Swanson. He is a full-time pastor plus a daily radio program host, home school curriculum writer and teacher.

Understand the Definition of Laziness and Don’t Be a Slacker. Not doing what your supposed to do when your supposed to do it… because then you can’t do what you want to do when you want to do it. Rather we should do what we are supposed to do when we are supposed to do it… then we can do what we want to do when we want  to do it. I would like to add do not miss the mark and equate godly rest as an excuse just so you can do less… this is the biblical definition of what it means to be a sluggard. Yes we need a day of rest and times away “on the mountain”; however many use this as a way out of godly work and service.

Set a Scheduled Routine for Bedtime and Get out of Bed time. I know, we all like a day now and then to sleep in… and it is good on occasion, yet we are given only a set number of days and hours in our lives so oversleeping does what Proverbs 20:13 says “Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.” Right and regular rest coupled with intentionality with our time will not only keep us full of energy – it makes our time more productive and useful. Besides, we all know what happens when kids do not have a schedule – guess what, adults are the same…. We just don’t like to admit it.

Keep Your Appointments with God. Do not skip prayer time and devotions time. Any relationship that is skipping over communication and interaction cools and drifts apart. Same goes for our time with the Lord – if you consistently miss it there is no way we will stay spiritually consistent in our relationship with God.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (Timothy 1:7)

In a World full of challenges, trials, and uncertainty this passage is one that we should remind ourselves of often.  Every day when you turn on the news there seems to be a few more things that we could fall prey to fearing if we allow ourselves to.  AI wants to “rewrite” the Bible, our government is busy trying to take away our freedoms, the elites are busy finding ways to combine man and machine, and our children and family unit are under attack like never before.  There is certainly no end of things that bring us great fear in this life.  But this passage is a reminder to us that God has given us the power not only to face those challenges, but to have victory over them.  As followers of Christ, we are blessed to be able to claim the promises of God that are found throughout His Holy Word.

Feeling confused and overwhelmed?  Proverbs 3:5-6 says – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.  Anxious about what’s going on in the world today?  Philippians 4:6-7 says –  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Afraid of the possible coming of religious persecution?  Isaiah 51:7 says –  Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is My law.  Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults. 

There are so many wonderful promises in the Word of God that we are able to claim when we belong to Him!  We can take great comfort in knowing as Deuteronomy 31:6 says –  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you.  No matter how frightening this become in these end times, we are never alone, God is in control, and the battle has already been won!

By Darlene Holdgrafer, Spiritual Ministry Team Member

I write with great grief this month…. In the state in which we reside, Minnesota, the current governing leaders have taken us down a very satanic road in passing three recent laws dubbed the trans refuge bill HF146, the conversion therapy ban HF16, and reproductive freedom bill HF259.

Ironically, he said “Freedom is on the march in Minnesota. Decency is on the march on in Minnesota. Compassion is on the march in Minnesota. Hate and bigotry too are on the march. But we make very clear that march of bigotry and hate stops at Minnesota’s borders.”

All three laws have little to do with true freedom, rather they are legislating people into the bondage of their sins. It is a rare thing to have new bills introduced and passed that benefit and truly protect “the least of these” – no they protect murder of children, mutilation of children and molestation of children; all of which have direct spiritual consequences of eternal proportions.

A fourth bill is being introduced and considered that I call the pedophile act HF447. It slips in the term “sexual orientation” under the civil rights law section of the bill. For those who do not know – sexual orientation is broad terminology that includes all LGBTQIA+ and “minor attracted persons” under its definition. In Article 3 Section 5  ‘”Sexual orientation” does not include a physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult.’ Was stricken from the bill. This means they removed it as something wrong and placed it as something to be protected as a right. That’s sick and exceedingly sinful and makes Sodom and Gomorrah like societies look like a paradise. Jesus said “better a millstone be hung around the neck of one who causes little ones to sin” and let’s not forget that the Bible does address catamites. This is the historical term for a pedophile. Check out 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (malakos: soft, that is, fine clothing, catamite – a boy kept by a pederast) , nor abusers of themselves with mankind (sodomite), Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. ”

These new bills are nothing new, the Bible tells us the roots of these ideas and ideologies are demonic and connected to the gods of child sacrifice, satanic self-worship and are demonstrative of those who willfully ignore God. Take the time to read Romans 1, 2 Timothy 3 and 2 Peter 2.

These are not the only diabolical and destructive bills recently plaguing Minnesota. There are several educational bills that will and are going to force many believers that are teachers or educational employees to make some decisions that will be difficult. Not to mention, these bills may even cause termination of employment if you do not “go along to get along”.

Some of the bills that you should know about and pay attention to are as follows:

HF2497 / SF 2684 Education Budget Omnibus Bill – this included studies in CRT, sexual preferences, gender and religion

HF358 Sexual Education Bill – this includes teaching sexual orientation and gender identities with explicit content

HF 1502 Ethnic Studies and Critical Social Justice

HF 320 Teachers of Color and Critical Social Justice

These are just some of the issues facing our state today. What does this tell us about our future here in Minnesota? We are spiraling into legislated sin and godlessness. What you do and say plus what you do not do and do not say will have an impact and reveal the truth of where you stand as a Christian citizen and where your convictions are derived from. What might God be calling you to “in such a time as this”?

Men of Maturity’s Call

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 

 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ Ephesians 4:13

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Colossians 1:28

Recently I heard about a book titled “The Death of the Grown Up” by Diane West. Remarkable! She noticed a trend in America regarding men not growing up and maturing. It has been an agenda of evil poised to the ravaging male leadership and fatherhood and protection in our society. I have also noticed the way men are portrayed in the media – everything masculine is denounced as toxic and the feminization of the younger males, and they are indoctrinated into lazy states of existence with no purpose but to follow their own hedonistic ends apart from God. And the last alarming thing I have noticed is the lack of male leaders emerging within the American church as a whole. I personally struggle with those who are afraid to pray publicly, to share a message and speak up when they have something to say regarding faith and the Word of God when given the opportunity to express their thoughts and what they know. It is fascinating how willing so many men are to not take up the mantle and leave things to the ladies…. Don’t get me wrong, I am overly grateful for the women stepping out in faith and essentially doing what the “Adams” are supposed to do – remember he never told Eve she shouldn’t eat the fruit and passively let happen what God said not to.

Why? Why can’t men be men? Why can’t men stand up? Why can’t men move past comfort and passivity to prepare the next generation for the difficult times ahead? Why is it like pulling teeth to get men to engage and lead? Is it that they have all become beta boys? Is for lack of discipleship? Are pastors and fellow brothers in Christ not showing good examples? Is it just plain ol’ cowardliness? Is it fear of others and how they may be viewed? The Bible says:

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

If we take a closer look at the passages above and the one just presented there are some actions words and characteristics that men ought to have as born again believers.

be watchful = it means to vigilantly keep awake

stand firm = be resolute and persevere

act like men = to show yourselves manly

be strong = to empower and increase in vigor and might

attain… mature manhood = arrive in complete labor and growth mentally and morally

stature = maturity, as big as

proclaim = preach, promulgate, declare, speak of

warning = put in mind, calling attention , to caution, reprove gently, admonish

teaching = to learn and then teach

not of fear = not cowardly, not timidity, not fearful – and always used in a bad sense of cowardice

but of power = rather of force, miraculous dynamite, meaning, night, strength, violence, wonderful work, able, possible

of love = affection, benevolence, embracing the deliberate sense of the will of principle, duty and propriety

of self control = disciplined and sound mind

When you put this al together, these are attributes and abilities God gives men to be men. I pose two questions:

Are you answering God’s call to be a man? Are you living as men of maturity’s call?

Only when men be the men God has called them to be and to act maturely and accordingly will America and the church be what God wants it to be…. So, I am calling all men to embrace manhood, to engage in maturity, to step passed comfort, complacency, insecurity and cowardice – our country, our society, our families, our wives, our children, our congregations, our leadership teams, our fellowship depends on it!

“And They Call Themselves a Christian!”

You shall know them by their fruits-Matthew 7:16

How many times have we or someone else say the phrase, “And they call themselves a Christian”?  I have said it.  I’ve also heard this said from other believers and nonbelievers.  Some have even gone as far to say, “This is why I don’t like going to church.  They’re just a bunch of hypocrites.  How many times have you seen or heard that someone isn’t the same person they used to be?  Maybe they quit the partying scene, or able to be patient instead of flying off the handle, and people will ask them what happened? How did you do it?  This is why Matthew 7:16 is so important.  People are constantly watching our actions to determine are we who we say we are.  If we say we are a Christian, then we should be acting like one all the time…..not just in the pews.  I think a lot of young people and nonbelievers get the hypocrite attitude and get turned away from church when they see our bad behavior constantly.  By obeying God on how we are to act IS another way to lead others to Christ.

So what actions and behaviors does everyone seem to use to see if others are the real deal?  It’s the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  We are told not to judge anyone on their clothing, nationality, race, education or rank in society(James 2:1-7, Colossians 3:11), but we are to look at their spiritual fruits to help determine if they truly are a child of God.  For a child of God is to be held at a higher account of obedience to God and they are to treat nonbelievers with love, grace and mercy cause we were once like them.

1John 4:7-8 says, “Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better.  But if a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God-for God is love.

If you only love those who love you, what good is that? Even the scoundrels do that much.  If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?  Even the heathen do that. Matthew 5:46-47.

I think we really need to examine ourselves to see if we put these fruits into action in our daily lives. 

Do we show these fruits at: home, work, school, shopping trips, out with friends, at restaurants, etc?  Please know others are watching, including our youth.  Let them see that we are the real deal and would love for them to ask us, “How did you do that?”  Then we can “speak” the gospel!  I’d like to finish with Colossians 3:2-17 

     Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend time worrying about things down here.  You should have little desire for this world as a dead person does.  Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God.  And when Christ who is our real life comes back again, you will shine with him and share in all his glories.

     Away then with sinful, earthly things; deaden the evil desires lurking within you;  have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust and shameful desires; don’t worship the good things of life, for that is idolatry.  God’s terrible anger is upon those who do such things.  You used to do them when your life was still part of this world; but now is the time to cast off and throw away all these rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language.

     Don’t tell lies to each other; it was your old life with all its wickedness that did that sort of thing; now it is dead and gone.  You are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ who created this new life within you.  In this new life one’s nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing.  Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and he is equally available to all.

     Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others.  Don’t worry about making a good impression on them but be ready to suffer quietly and patiently.

     Be gentle and ready to forgive, never hold grudges.  Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

     Most of all, let love guide your life, for then the whole church will stay together in perfect harmony.  Let the peace of heart which comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body.  And always be thankful.

     Remember what Christ taught and let his words enrich your lives and make you wise; teach them to each other and sing them out in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing to the Lord with thankful hearts.  And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, and come with him into the presence of God the Father to give him your thanks.