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Here’s one of the most annoyingly effeminate things pastors do that undermines their leadership and especially their leadership of men...
What do you do when you’ve wrecked your marriage, your relationship with your children, and your life just in general? You do this...
Some really basics thoughts on sanctuary towns and churches...
Social Media posts change minds. People saying they don’t is either ignorance or gaslighting. Let me explain...
I sent this our congregation yesterday before the start of the purge. I actually think things are more dire. Nonetheless, maybe you'll find it helpful...
Brethren,
It has been a disastrous week for our nation. There is no way around it. And we can’t ignore this reality. Our nation’s previous administration—for all its faults—wasn’t antagonistic towards Christians. They have either been generally or outright supportive of political and religious freedom. This can’t be said of the incoming administration. They’ve shown their hand and it’s discouraging. So it’s right to be grieved.
We, however, can’t be ruled by our grief or paralyzed by a fear of what is to come. Our Christian forefathers thrived under worst situations. So can we. We don’t choose our times but we do choose how we react to them.
So how should we react?
We should build where God has place us in faith with joy.
As I’ve said previously, I think the exilic and post-exilic books of the Scripture are especially helpful for times like ours. For example, I’d encourage everyone to consider the commands given to Israel while in exiled under a pagan government in Babylon. In Jeremiah 29, God says:
"Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce.Take wives and father sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may give birth to sons and daughters; and grow in numbers there and do not decrease. Seek the prosperity of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord in its behalf; for in its prosperity will be your prosperity’" (v 5-7).
While it’s not an exact analog, it’s still a good plan for American Christians. We don’t have a real position of power. We have minimal influence at a federal level but we can make a real difference at a local level. Therefore, we should focus the bulk of our attention on building up our families, businesses, communities, and churches right here in Clermont County to the glory of God. You can’t win a culture war without a culture. So let’s build a culture centered above all things on the gospel of Christ.
County before country and Christ before all.
Brethren,
It has been a disastrous week for our nation. There is no way around it. And we can’t ignore this reality. Our nation’s previous administration—for all its faults—wasn’t antagonistic towards Christians. They have either been generally or outright supportive of political and religious freedom. This can’t be said of the incoming administration. They’ve shown their hand and it’s discouraging. So it’s right to be grieved.
We, however, can’t be ruled by our grief or paralyzed by a fear of what is to come. Our Christian forefathers thrived under worst situations. So can we. We don’t choose our times but we do choose how we react to them.
So how should we react?
We should build where God has place us in faith with joy.
As I’ve said previously, I think the exilic and post-exilic books of the Scripture are especially helpful for times like ours. For example, I’d encourage everyone to consider the commands given to Israel while in exiled under a pagan government in Babylon. In Jeremiah 29, God says:
"Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce.Take wives and father sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may give birth to sons and daughters; and grow in numbers there and do not decrease. Seek the prosperity of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord in its behalf; for in its prosperity will be your prosperity’" (v 5-7).
While it’s not an exact analog, it’s still a good plan for American Christians. We don’t have a real position of power. We have minimal influence at a federal level but we can make a real difference at a local level. Therefore, we should focus the bulk of our attention on building up our families, businesses, communities, and churches right here in Clermont County to the glory of God. You can’t win a culture war without a culture. So let’s build a culture centered above all things on the gospel of Christ.
County before country and Christ before all.
“Normalcy bias, or normality bias, is a cognitive bias which leads people to disbelieve or minimize threat warnings.
Consequently, individuals underestimate the likelihood of a disaster, when it might affect them, and its potential adverse effects.
The normalcy bias causes many people to not adequately prepare for natural disasters, pandemics, and calamities caused by human error.
About 70% of people reportedly display normalcy bias during a disaster.”
Stay cool, calm, but think critically and carefully.
Consequently, individuals underestimate the likelihood of a disaster, when it might affect them, and its potential adverse effects.
The normalcy bias causes many people to not adequately prepare for natural disasters, pandemics, and calamities caused by human error.
About 70% of people reportedly display normalcy bias during a disaster.”
Stay cool, calm, but think critically and carefully.