Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…Have you ever noticed in a moment of enlightenment, that the answers you had been unsuccessfully searching for were actually right in front of you all the time? Such was the case with the topic for today’s blog. I struggled with a topic for about a week, then I actually jumped in and started my own journey, thinking it would eventually take shape. To be honest, It was a struggle from the first word! Finally, after quite a few hours of total frustration, I had a brilliant thought; perhaps I should check in with the Holy Spirit. That is usually my first stop, but for some reason, I just passed over that step and landed in an inspirational wasteland. But when I came to my senses, I was immediately drawn to today’s topic because I have been stressing the importance of knowing our identity in Christ, and understanding the power that comes from that identity with my “Freedom in Christ” class at Seaglass Church in Apollo Beach, FL.

Since I was involved with music education for most of my previous career, I understand the importance of fundamental principles when learning to play a wind instrument. If one begins with a faulty embouchure, or doesn’t understand how to properly use the air stream, or doesn’t master the importance of hand and finger position, or posture, it can hinder the budding young muscian from ever reaching full potential. Such is the case when learning what it really means to be in Christ.

Unfortunately, too many Christians think that if they say, “I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior”, their life will change for the better; they’ll be happier; they’ll be more confident; they’ll be blessed, and they will achieve the abundant life that Jesus talked about. No doubt, all of that is possible, but it requires more than just saying the words. 2 Peter 1: 3-4 clarifies this error: “The more we grow in our relationship with Jesus, His divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly live.  He has called us to receive His own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, He has given us all of His rich and wonderful promises.  He has promised that we will escape the decadence all around us caused by evil desires, and that we will share in His divine nature.”

No doubt, people are drawn to Christianity because they’ve heard that their sins will be forgiven and that they will inherit eternal life. “Fire insurance” is a good motivator, but it is not to be confused with developing a relationship with Jesus Christ. Not that I mean to be judgmental, but that defines a large segment of the Christians I know, and about all of the Christians with whom I have the privilege of counseling. They have accepted God’s Gift of Grace, but they never intended to let that decision interfere with the life-style they had been  enjoying. Many, not all, go to church, and a few even become involved in church activities. But they have little interest in growing in their relationship with Christ, and a few have even expressed their concern about becoming a “Jesus Freak”. After all, would their friends still like them? Would they think they were weird?

When people turn to God, it is usually in a state of brokenness or because of an epiphany. But regardless of the reason, God Jehovah of the Holy Bible will meet us wherever we are, but then He leads us to His Son, Jesus Christ. Why? Because that was His plan for our salvation even before the world, and Man, were created. This is explained very clearly in Ephesians 1:3-4: “Long ago, even before the world was created, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.  His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and this gave Him great pleasure!” Notice two things here: even before He created us, He loved us…but not as the world loves. His love is unconditional, unending and unfailing because that is the very essence of God. (Ref. 1John 4:7: “God IS love!” …my emphasis.) That love is reflected in the fact that He also chose us in Christ.

Because one of God’s majestic qualities is omniscience, meaning He can look into the future, He knew, even before He created us, that we were going to be problem children; He knew that Adam and Ever were going to be disobedient in the Garden and would fall into satan’s trap. But none-the-less, He created us. How awesome is that?!  But He also “chose us in Christ”. To “be chosen” means” to be set aside for a sacred purpose”, and in Christ  refers to His plan to provide a Redeemer to do for us what He already knew we could not do for ourselves. Again, another example of His unconditional, unending and unfailing love for His proudest creation.

So, Fundamental Principle # 1 is this: God is Love; He created us for a relationship with Himself. But in order for a relationship to develop, He had to give us “free-will” at the outset so we could choose to enter into that relationship. And therein lies the problem. Man can choose to use his free-will to engage in a relationship with God, or he can choose to focus on “self-fulfillment”, “self-pleasure” and “self-promotion”. Well, we all know how that turned out.

Ephesians 1:10-11 tells us:  “And this was His plan: At just the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ- everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God (forgiveness of our sins and eternal life), for He chose us (in Christ) from the beginning and all things happen just as He decided long ago.” The fulfillment of that promise can be found in Romans 5:6: “When we (Mankind) were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time, and died for us sinners.” And what was “just the right time”? When we proved ourselves to be “utterly helpless.” This “Gift of Grace” was God’s ultimate love offerng to us.

Fundamental Principle #2 is this: “God’s plan was always to send a Redeemer, Jesus Christ, to save us from ourselves. This is why that is so important. God wanted a relationship with His proudest creation, and not just a here-and-now relationship, but an eternal relationship. God already had set the standard for entering into eternity when He proclaimed in 1Peter1:16: “You must be holy because I am holy.” (Holy means to be sin-free, and set aside for a sacred purpose) That presented a problem for Mankind, since from Creation until 2021 years ago, we proved ourselves to be “utterly helpless” to overcome the dilemma of Sin. But the good news is… God already had a plan to redeem us; Jesus Christ would become the sacrificial lamb who would shed His blood to pay OUR sin ransom.

It is important to notice that God did not wait for us to clean up our act before He offered His Gift of Grace. Romans 5:6 (listed two paragraphs above) tells us that Christ came to die for us while we were still sinners.  This is just one more reinforcement of God’s unconditional, unending love!

To be in Christ means to be born again, or to be saved. 2 Corinthians 5:17 explains this supernatural transformation: “We become a new creation in Christ; the old is gone (meaning we are no longer slaves to our sin-nature); the new has come.  (the Holy Spirit)”  Prior to this transformation, we too, were unsaved.  In the third paragraph of this blog when I referenced 2 Peter 1:3, the Scripture stated, “His divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life”. That divine power is the indwelling Holy Spirit.  This is a gift from God so we can become the people He created us to be.

These two fundamental truths are the very essence of Christianity: God is love, and His plan was always to provide a Redeemer to set us free from the power of sin that leads to death.  Romans 6:23 provides this truth: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”  No doubt we will all die physically, but for those who are in Christ, our spirits will live forever.  Apostle Paul explains this in 2 Corinthians 5:8: “When we are absent from these bodies, we will then be in the presence of the Lord.”

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May God Bless Y’all…

Dan Presgrave, (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…I love writing about this topic because it gives hope to everyone. There are multiple references to God’s faithfulness in His Word, because “LOVE” is His very essence, and faithfulness is one of “loves” manifestations. Psalm 33:4 presents this very succinctly: “For the Word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does.” The fact that His Word is “right and true” tells us that God cannot change, nor forgo any of His multiple promises, because to do so would call into question another of His attributes… “Truth.” God’s attributes of “Love” and “Truth” both manifest themselves in the following ways: forgiveness, mercy, grace, compassion, kindness, goodness, acceptance, and of course, faithfulness! In my mind, these qualities are wrapped up in what are often called “His Majestic qualities…His power; His glory!” While we can most likely understand the definition of these words, wrapping our minds around what they mean from God’s perspective often stretches us to the max!

Many times, Scripture can be taken out of context, or simply misunderstood. For instance, we are told that “God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him.” Let’s examine that verse from the back to the front. “To those who are faithful to Him” refers to those who are in line with His will. The first part of that verse is His promise to us, but that promise is predicted on whether we are in line with His will. For instance, when we are praying to God and asking for financial favor, or spiritual healing, or strength to win the race, if we have unresolved spiritual issues in our own lives, we might not see an answer to that request. “Why”, you ask? Matthew 5:23-24 addresses that situation. “So, if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”

Two issues that can stand in the way of receiving blessings from God are unforgiveness and doubt. God wants our commitment to Him; He wants us to depend on Him rather than relying on our own self-will.  In fact, His sole purpose for giving us the indwelling Holy Spirit is so that we can accomplish more through the Spirit than we ever could through our own best effort. When we call Him into action, He will empower us to rise above our circumstances or our feelings. (Important point: The Holy Spirit does not do it for us. He doesn’t change our circumstances or our feelings, but He does “empower us” to rise above the decadence of this world. As it tells us in James 1:3-4, “When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. But when you make your petition to God, be sure that your faith is in God alone! Do not waiver, for a person with divided loyalty (meaning, one who is plagued with doubt) is as unsettled as a wave on the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”

The more we choose to believe that what God said is true, the more our faith grows. But we have to remember, the words on the page are only a vehicle of communication; what is of utmost relevance is Who spoke the words. For example, when Jairus heard that his daughter had died, Jesus’ response to him could appear to be flippant. “Don’t be afraid; trust Me”. (Mark 5:36) But because Jesus is Jesus, and because Jairus came to Him specifically to ask for miraculous healing, Jesus’ response reaffirmed Jairus’ faith.

However, if Joe Schmo, a politician, said to his audience, “Don’t be afraid; trust me”, would those words have the same impact? I believe not. “Why” you ask? Because Jesus was known for miraculous healings; politicians, including Joe Schmo, most likely have made promises they did not fulfill. The power of God’s promises is in the fact that God is the author of the words! As followers of Jesus Christ, we know and have experienced His promises through His faithfulness. If He said He would, He does; if He said we can, we can! His faithfulness equals increased faith in us.

I wrote last week about the dilemma plaguing our culture, and I posed this question: “In this crazy, mixed-up world in which we are now living, how can we know who or what to trust?” I went on to say that in this state of quandary, there is a preponderance of uneasiness, doubt, fear, depression, anxiety or even hopelessness. The statistics relating to addictions, divorces, psychosomatic illnesses and suicides substantiate that last statement. Unfortunately, no one is immune from the fall-out of unease, doubt and fear.

Having made that statement of truth, unpleasant as it is, I now want to provide the “hope” promised in the first sentence of this blog. God, the Creator of the universe, the Creator of the world, the Majestic God, our Creator wants nothing more than a relationship with EACH ONE OF US! He has done ALL of the work necessary for each of us to inherit eternal life. He paid your sin-ransom with the blood of His Son, and He has gifted you with the Holy Spirit so you can become the person He created you to be…even in this fallen world.

God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him. Throughout the Bible, God has made hundreds of promises. He did this because He loves to bless us. Some promises are Truths telling what He will do for us: For instance, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:8), or “Nothing can separate us from His love.” (Romans 8:38) Other promises require an action on our part. For instance, “If you come humbly before the Lord and admit your dependence on Him, He will lift you up and give you honor” or “If you follow my teachings, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) God wants us to depend on Him. The more we do that, He is faithful to provide what He promised.  That is why we sing, “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee, Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not, As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.” (Chris Rice, author)

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May God Bless You abundantly,

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…I know I have opened with this statement – or something of the same ilk before, but it is so real, so clear, and so true that I can’t help repeating it right now. I don’t ever want this message to sound cliché-like, so here it is: “In this crazy mixed-up world (oh yes, and also this spiritually and morally bankrupt world) in which we are living today, how can we know who, or what to trust? Is it this expert or that expert; is it a particular celebrity turned prophet; is it a particular politician espousing his/her agenda; or is it the universal truth (whatever that is), is it one of the many gods that are popular today, or is it God Jehovah of the Old and New Testament? The sad truth about that question is…there are probably as many answers as there are people answering it. The unfortunate result of that state of existence is a preponderance of uneasiness, doubt, fear, depression, anxiety or even hopelessness. The statistics relating to addictions, divorces, psychosomatic illnesses and suicides substantiate that last statement.

What is your source of joy? Where do you turn for peace and serenity?  Who can you turn to for safety and security, knowing without a doubt that they will never let you down? Take a moment to ponder those questions, because in a world where truth is relative and deceit is plentiful, counterfeit solutions, which titillate our flesh and/or our intellect, more often than not enhance the downward spiral.

Do you ever fantasize about waking up tomorrow and discovering that you’re in a sane world where people aren’t wearing masks, they’re smiling, they’re looking you in the eye as they pass by, and negativity has been replaced with anticipation of a brighter future? That sounds good, right? Well…here is a wonderful roadmap to that destination, and it is found in that musty, old, outdated book called the Holy Bible.  “Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by changing the way you think! Then you will know how good, pleasing and perfect God’s will is for your life.”

The awesome truth of that Scripture convicts our culture at its core. “How is that”, you ask? Because God’s standard, contrary to worldly thinking, is not a list of “do’s and don’ts”, but a guideline for honoring Him and avoiding unintentional consequences. When God gave the commandments to Moses on Mt. Sanai, the Israelites were in a state of chaos in the wilderness. Our culture today is in its own state of chaos, and like the Israelites of old, the world is offering us its own versions of the “golden calf” (false gods, or idols) to fulfill our fundamental needs. Only God can fill that proverbial hole in our soul, because that’s the way He created us. Nothing short of a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ can make us whole. John 15:7-8 substantiates that statement: “But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you will produce much fruit, showing that you are My true disciples.  This brings great glory to My Father!

God is described in 1John 4:7 with one word: “God IS Love!”  It doesn’t say He is loving, or that He loved, but that He IS Love; His very essence is LOVE! (You can look up the definition of agape love in 1Corinthians 13:4-7) Therefore, if the very essence of God is Love, nothing can emanate from Him that is not rooted in Love: forgiveness, mercy, grace, compassion, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, acceptance, joy, fulfillment, peace, serenity, safety and security. (list 1) Those qualities portray the very nature of God. So, my question to you is… “How many of those words would you use to describe the nature of our culture right now?

In the first paragraph of this blog, I used some pretty harsh words to describe our “state of being”: “crazy-mixed up world” and “morally and spiritually bankrupt world.” I don’t believe any of the words listed in the paragraph above (list 1) are appropriate when describing our culture today. Do you? If not, what words would be appropriate? Let me help you: hatred, anger, frustration, guilt, shame, depression, anxiety, sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasure, idolatry, satanic influence, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, and addictions. (list 2) Compare these two lists. One reflects the nature of God. What is the source of the other list? (list 2)

I know that even before I write the next word, there are many who are not going to like what I have to say. I know that, because there was a time in my previous life when I too was an intellectual skeptic. As an Atheist, I obviously didn’t believe in God, but I got particularly wound up when I heard people talking about satan or the devil. “How can they be so ignorant? That’s even more outlandish than believing in God!”  But when I experienced my own a radical encounter with THE TRUTH, I came to realize that the ignorant one was me.

Jesus talked extensively about satan, or the devil. He referred to him as “the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.” (Ephesians 2: 2) He went on to say that, “satan is the father of lies, and there is no truth in him.” (John 8:44) Satan is the puppeteer behind the dark domain, and those who are under his power don’t even realize it. His tactics include lies and deception, schemes, and condemnation. His sole purpose is to shipwreck YOUR best effort to break-free of his grip and become a follower of Jesus Christ. Trust me when I tell you, YOU are NO match for his shenanigans! He knows YOU intimately, because you too were once part of his domain. Therefore, HE IS RELENTLESS in his pursuit of YOU!

Now that you have this important information about our adversary, satan, it should provide you with enough ammunition to answer the last question three paragraphs above; “What is the source of the other list?” (list2) You just learned that “he is the puppeteer behind the dark domain, and that he is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God”. The ugliness of the words in list 2 can only be brought to life by a heart that is filled with, hatred, anger, disgust, jealousy, greed, etc. All of the words in the second list reflect satan’s nature. He is the one who comes “to steal, kill, and destroy.”  (John 10:10)

As long as satan is the ruling power of this world, ugliness will prevail and evil will appear to be the victor. That’s why it is so important for people to learn The Truth of God’s Word. The only way to decimate satan’s lies, deceptions, schemes, and condemnations is by proclaiming the truth of God’s Word, just like Jesus did in the wilderness when He encountered satan. The more hearts that are filled with the love of God, the more our world will change. We have a challenge! The harvest is ready, but the workers are few. For those who are called by His name, the time is NOW.  Political correctness and extreme tolerance must end in the church.

Feel free to respond to this message, and please share this with social media friends.

May God Bless You abundantly,

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…One of my fondest childhood memories is recalling our church body being emotionally caught up in singing the traditional hymns.  I always liked the iambic pentameter-style of writing, the simple harmonies, and especially the emotional rush I got from being part of that collective spirit.  The piano was often out-of-tune; the organist would play her share of “colorful notes” – and often took great liberties with the printed rhythm – but that never distracted from our zealous praise and worship.  I still find myself mentally singing, or if alone in my car, BELLOWING OUT those time-honored hits!

Today, I find myself not only drawn to the emotional impact of those hymns, but enlightened by the incredible power and truth of the words.  Each one of those classic hymns can stand as a mini-sermon in its own right.  Take, for example, one of my favorites; “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!  What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?  Is there trouble anywhere?  We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer.

To drive home the power of the very first sentence, I will direct you to John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  That display of faithfulness was the ultimate display of Jesus’ love for us.  And that display was also God’s plan, “even before the world was created” (Ephesians 1:4), so that we could be sin-free and worthy to come into His presence and spend eternity with Him. Notice this was not because of anything we did, but because of what Jesus did for us.

When we make the decision to accept God’s Gift of Grace, we become a new creation, as explained in 2Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, anyone who is in Christ, is a new creation.  The old is gone (meaning we are no longer slaves to our sin nature), the new has come. (we now have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to empower us to live the life God planned for us long ago.) (Ephesians 2:10)

Think about the power of that truth.  Now that we are in Christ, we inherit everything that resulted from Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross: our sins are forgiven; we inherited eternal life; we are now worthy and acceptable in God’s eyes; we are grafted into His family as His children; we are the righteousness of Christ (only because we inherited His glory); we are heir to all the promises and covenants in the Bible, and we are heir to all the blessings in the spiritual realm.  And because we are in Christ, Christ is in us. “I no longer live, but Christ lives in and through me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Galatians 5: 17-21 explains the power of the Holy Spirit this way: “The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants.  And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires.  These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and our choices are never free from this conflict. But when we follow the desires of our sinful nature our lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin.”  Apostle Paul ends this litany with the following capstone, “Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God!”  (my underline)

Now compare the stark difference in the results when we follow the Holy Spirit. “He will produce in us:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  Apostle Paul’s capstone here is, “…but those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22, 6:8

Now let’s look back at the hymn and to the rest of the truth presented in verse 1.  “All our sins and griefs to bear,” and “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we often bear”.  Jesus told us in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you.  Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”  For instance, when two oxen are yoked together, one is learning from the other.  When we are yoked to Jesus, we are learning THE truth, and that truth will set us free.” (John 8:32)

Once we realize that the work was done by Jesus 2020 years ago, and we no longer have to work to earn God’s approval and acceptance, we can finally experience “rest” (or peace). This is all because we are in Christ.  Our eternal destiny is sealed, and we have Christ in us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we can rise above this fallen world to become God’s masterpiece.  “For we are God’s masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can NOW do the good things He planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10) Now, add to that statement this exclamation point of truth. One of God’s many promises tells us that we are already victorious, because “He that is in me (the Holy Spirit) is greater than he (satan) in this world.!  Do you see that?  We are already promised victory because we are no longer slaves to our sin nature.  We can now count on the Holy Spirit to empower us to make decisions that are pleasing to God. 

Let’s look at verse 2 of the hymn.  “Have we trials and temptations?  Is there trouble anywhere?”  Absolutely!  We live in a fallen world where the truth of God’s Word is challenged and marginalized at every possible opportunity.  We live in a culture that has turned its back on God. The fallibility of human wisdom reigns!  While we look at the Gospel of Grace as “the very power of God, to those who do not have the Spirit in them, it seems foolish…like a fairy-tale. (1Corinthians 1:18)

“But we should never be discouraged, because we can take it to the Lord in prayer.”  God’s salvation plan is absolutely perfect.  Our eternal destiny is sealed because we are in Christ, and the indwelling Holy Spirit empowers us to rise above this world and become the person He created us to be.  When we do that, we bring honor and glory to God.  

“Have we found a friend so faithful… who will all our troubles share?”  Absolutely!  He is Jesus, The Christ, who laid down His life for our salvation!   Only when we understand who we are in Christ – and grasp the truth of that new identity – can we begin to experience both the promised rest and abundant life. I encourage you at this point to scroll back a few paragraphs and once again compare the stark differences in the life directed by your sin nature, as compared to the life directed by the Holy Spirit.  Then ask yourself, “which list describes my life??”

The good news is… “Jesus knows our every weakness.  He knows it because, as the Son of Man, He experienced the brokenness of this world. (Oh, did He experience it!!)  He knows what we face as His followers.  But even when we stumble…even if we fall, “we can take it to Him in prayer.”  As long as we turn to Him as our source of strength, we can count on Him to empower us to become the person He created us to be.  Wow! “What a friend we have in Jesus!”

Please feel free to respond to this message, and also feel free to “like” and share this with other social media friends.

May God Bless You Abundantly,

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…This is one of those days when I have been drawn to this particular subject. But the challenge so far has been, finding the right title for the message. However the title reads when you first look at it, I can assure you it is at least the 10^th, 11^th, or 12^th attempt at getting the right wording. The title could just as easily have read, “A Message to My Unsaved Friends,” but I just finished a short series on that very topic.

This message is the ultimate message of hope and salvation, but since so many people have erroneous beliefs concerning two fundamental truths that underpin the message of grace, I want to tackle each misconception separately. Granted, the title has an ominous ring to it, which is intentional because the two misconceptions can lead to ominous consequences. But when you compare these misconceptions with the truth of the Gospel of Grace, you can’t help but see a God of unconditional, unending, and unfailing love who always prefers mercy over judgement. He is the God who wants to lavish on you His riches in glory…“regardless of who you are, or what you have done!” (Romans 3:22)

I have the opportunity to share the Gospel of Grace with both nonbelievers, and with believers who are struggling to stay the course.  In both cases, my conversation eventually leads to this all-important question: “Are you secure in your salvation?” Sometimes I am told outright that they don’t believe what I believe, and they’re not interested in pursuing this subject any further. The good news is… that’s by far the minority of cases. Most often I hear one of these two misconceptions. The first sounds like this: “I believe I am a good person”, then I hear a resume of good deeds, a list of volunteer work, and sometimes even about financial support of worthy endeavors.  In these cases, they have missed the concept of “grace” and are still living under the Law, meaning they are depending on their works to make them worthy and acceptable in God’s eyes. Galatians 2:21 addresses this specifically: “If we could have been made right in God’s sight by keeping the Law, there would have been no reason for Christ to have come.”

The second misconception is often framed in this manner: “Wow! If you had any idea of my past, even you could easily see why God would want nothing to do with me.  I don’t even like myself; how can I expect Him to love and forgive me?” Here the concept of grace has obviously given way to satan’s lies and distortions, leaving the victim feeling unworthy, unloved and unacceptable. That’s the way satan works; his whole purpose is to steal our joy and to shipwreck our best effort to become more Christ-like. Believe me, he is a master at his craft! But let’s turn now from these two areas of misconception and immerse ourselves in the truth of God’s Word

God created us for a relationship with Himself; not just a here-and-now relationship, but an eternal relationship.  That is of utmost importancesatan’s lies and distortions, leaving the victim feeling unworthy, unloved and unacceptable. That’s the way satan works; his whole purpose is to steal our joy and to shipwreck our best effort to become more Christ-like. Believe me, he is a master at his craft!  But let’s turn now from these two areas of misconception and immerse ourselves in the truth of God’s Word, and God’s plan is spelled out specifically in Ephesians 1:4-5,10-11: “Long ago, even before He created the world (and Man), God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.  His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ., and this gave Him great pleasure. And this is His plan: At just the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us from the beginning (because we are in Christ), and all things happen just as He decided long ago.”

Because one of God’s majestic qualities is omniscience, even before He created us, He could look into the future and see that we were going to be problem children. He could see that we were going to pursue our own interests and exalt “self” rather than exalting Him. But it was that very awareness that makes this such an incredible example of His unconditional, unending and unfailing love: He created us anyway, knowing full-well that, “at just the right time” He would have to send a Savior to do for us what we would prove, without a shadow of a doubt, we were incapable of doing for ourselves. What a display of His love for our lost souls.

Sin is the eternal dilemma of Mankind! God gave Man from Creation until 2021 years ago to wrestle with the issue of Sin, but instead of showing progress, we continued our downward spiral into moral and spiritual decay.  Romans 5:6 is our report card regarding the issue of Sin and our own best effort. “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time to die for us sinners.” Utterly helpless is a serious indictment, which means we showed ourselves to be slaves to our sin-nature. So, what was just the right time to implement God’s plan? When we, in God’s eyes, were utterly helpless to save ourselves. This is what makes this gift the “Gift of Grace”.  We didn’t earn it, and we certainly didn’t deserve it. It is His gift to us, because He loves us in a way that is totally incomprehensible by the human mind!

But God also wants us to love Him back with all of our heart, soul and mind. That is why we were created for a relationship with Him. 2 Peter 1:3 clarifies that point: “The more we grow in our relationship with Jesus, His divine nature gives us everything we need for living a Godly life…”  It’s all about relationship; IT IS NOT about religion or works. Ephesians 2:8-9 drives that point home. “God saved you by His special favor (by His grace) when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; this is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

Since God witnessed first-hand what sin did to His original Paradise, He took steps to prevent such a recurrence in the New Jerusalem. He proclaimed in Leviticus 20:26: “You must be holy (set aside for a sacred purpose; sin-free) because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own.” In other words, we cannot come into the presence of God if we are stained with sin!  And why is that you ask?  Because sin contaminates, spreads, kills and destroys.  If you doubt that, just look at the world in which you are living.  Remember…this too started out as Paradise; what you see today is Man’s best effort at playing God!

Revelation 21 puts the exclamation point at the end of the discussion concerning the criteria for entering the Kingdom of Heaven.  “Nothing evil will be allowed to enter – no one who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty – but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (meaning, those who are in Christ!)  

So far there has been only one person in the history of the world who lived a sin-free life, and that was Jesus Christ.  That is what qualified Him to be THE Sacrificial Lamb to be slain in our place. His one-time sin offering paid the sin-ransom for everyone who accepts God’s Gift of Grace. If you are in Christ, in God’s eyes you are justified (made right in His sight) because you are covered with the blood of His dearly beloved Son, Jesus.  This is the ONLY ticket to eternal life in Paradise!

I’ll close with this clear, concise presentation of the Gospel of Grace: “But now God has shown us a different way of being right in His sight, not by obeying the Law, but by the way promised in Scriptures long ago.  We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.  And we all can be saved in the same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.  For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Yet now God in His gracious kindness declares us NOT GUILTY! He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.  For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy His anger against us.  We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed His blood, sacrificing His life for us.”  (Romans 3:21-25)  Amen!

Feel free to “like” this posting, and please feel free to share it with other social media friends.

May God bless Ya…

Dan Presgrave, (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Happy Independence Day, Meetpastordan Readers…As we enter the week of our 245th Independence Day celebration, I hope it is a time when we all reflect on the true meaning of this day and take time to thank God and a Veteran for the privilege of living in a country that is free. As we partake of various parades, concerts, festivals, family BBQs, perhaps even a memorial service or a patriotic speech, I hope the truth of this statement, “freedom isn’t free” becomes ablaze in your heart and inspires you to embrace it as a “gift” rather than a bumper-sticker slogan.

Unfortunately, these are perilous times in which we are living, and freedom itself seems to be in jeopardy. Contributing culprits include today’s hostile political climate: a Democrat Socialist agenda that will seemingly stop at nothing to achieve its end; a culture that is characterized by anger, frustration, hatred, name-calling, finger-pointing, accusations and deception; a challenge to time honored traditions; a growing disdain for the rule of law. No wonder there is a climate of uncertainty and despair looming over our great nation; we’re not sure what to believe or who to trust anymore. Now couple that with the downward spiral of our culture’s moral and spiritual values and it’s easy to see how all of these factors can contribute to a sense of uneasiness…even hopelessness.

But the good news is…we don’t have to look at the world through that lens.  Oh yes, those issues are today’s reality, but I believe if we look up for a solution rather than down at the cesspool in which we are standing, we can find hope.  I’m still an optimist, so when we stand on the only truth that will never forsake us, I believe we can become energized once again as individuals and as a nation.

I love America. I believe in America. I was proud to serve my country, and I still believe that with all our faults and shortcomings, America is the greatest country the world has ever seen.  It was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, and the founding fathers even bowed in prayer on April 30, 1789 at St. Paul’s Chapel to consecrate this new nation’s future to God.  No other nation in modern times has been so blessed, but to whom much is given, much is expected.

I know it’s easy to look around and see the dramatic changes that define America today and ask yourself, “How did we ever get in this mess?”  Truth be told…there are as many opinions and answers to that question as there are people asking the question.  But let’s look at just one Biblical principle that can provide one answer on many levels.

Throughout the Bible when God’s chosen people (the Israelites) were in line with his will, he blessed them.  When they were not following His will for their lives, there was calamity in many forms: famines, floods, earthquakes, pestilence, wars etc.  Here are two sets of scripture that specifically address the above situation. Romans 1:25, 28, 32: “Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies…When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done. They were fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway.”   And concerning his covenant with a nation, we are told in Jeremiah 18: 9-10: “But if I announce that I will build up and plant a certain nation or kingdom, making it strong and great, but then the nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless that nation as I had said I would.” 

Do you get any clue from those scriptures concerning America’s standing in terms of fulfilling God’s purpose?  To me, the scripture from Jeremiah could not be clearer.  The removal of prayer and the Ten Commandments from its public life would most certainly be out of line with God’s will.  Add to that the 55 million aborted babies since Roe vs Wade in 1973; our acceptance of sexual immorality as the new norm; and our tolerance for lying, cheating and stealing as “just the way it is today”, and it isn’t difficult to see why God would be grieved by our disobedience.   All one has to do is backtrack through the Bible and look at the history of nations that have ignored God’s Proclamation. That little excursion can give us ample reason to be concerned about the direction of our country.

But the good news can be found in 2Chronicles, 7:14: “then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.”   James 2:10 also gives us reason to be hopeful: “If you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.”  In my mind, our calling is clear.

1John 4:4 reminds all Christ-followers of our identity in Christ. “He (the Holy Spirit) that is in me is greater than he (satan) that is in this world.  When addressing the holy people in Ephesus who were struggling with their culture, Apostle Paul clearly points out satan’s activities in Ephesians 2:2, 4: “You used to live like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air.  He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.  But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life…through Jesus Christ.”

As Christ-followers we are called to carry His message of truth into the world and to be His shining light on the hill.  When we call on the Holy Spirit to empower us with his wisdom, strength, courage and patience, we can fulfill that calling and resist the enemy in these evil times.  His Word says He will bless our effort as we continue to stand up for the same freedom that was endowed by the Creator Himself!

Therefore, if there was ever a time for intercessory prayer, it is now. This is the time to pray for revelation and enlightenment in the minds and hearts of those who want to steer us away from the principles and traditions that made our country great!

I believe America is in a time of reprieve. The same Proclamation that has been offered to men and nations throughout the Bible is being offered to our great country now. “Repent! Turn from your sin and turn to God!” The Bible is resplendent with examples of men and nations that yielded to that calling and were blessed and restored.  Unfortunately, there is also a number of examples of destruction for those who resisted that same invitation. Remember, God did bless America, and his mercy always trumps his judgement. As we are told in Luke 1:37, “Nothing is impossible with God!”

Feel free to respond to this posting, and please “like” and share it with other social media friends.

May God bless you, and Happy July 4^th, 2021

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…buckle your seat belts. This will keep you reading, and I hope thinking

1. “Why do the nations rage? Why do the people waste their time with futile plans?  The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against His anointed One.  ‘Let us break their chains,’ they cry, ‘and free ourselves from this slavery.” 

          But the One who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then in anger, He  rebukes them, terrifying them with His   fierce fury.”  Psalm 2:1-5

2. “The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted the instructions of God, violated His laws and broken His everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth and its people.” Isaiah 24:5

3. “First, I want to remind you that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the truth and do every evil thing they desire.” 2Peter 3:3

4. “Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark; that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. Destruction is certain for those who think they are wise and consider themselves to be clever; who take bribes to pervert justice.  They let the wicked go free while punishing the innocent.”  Isaiah 5: 20-21,23

These Scriptures and Prophecies were spoken thousands of years ago.  Do you see them being realized in our world today?   While there may be a plethora of history books to choose from, the Holy Bible has a corner on the market when it comes to the hundreds of prophecies contained therein.  Many have been fulfilled, and may be fulfilled again under certain circumstances, and many are waiting to be fulfilled.

Mike Bickle, author of “Growing in Prayer” – when speaking of our growing world crisis – makes this statement: “The nations are increasing in lawlessness and moral confusion, and engaging in escalating conflicts, including those inspired by racism, terrorism, and sexual immorality.  In addition, we are facing the threat of devastating global economic crisis, the breakdown of marriage and the family, the rapid, wholesale acceptance of the “gay agenda”; and a full-blown assault on Christian values and teaching. The prevailing sentiment worldwide is one of growing fear, unbelief, and mistrust, as the earth shudders under the weight of man’s escalating sin.” 

Now let’s look at our own culture and see how accurate are the above prophecies and current observations of Mr. Bickle. The Bible is an awesome collection of history, all of which is substantiated by secular writings. But with even a cursory glance, the cause of the rise and fall of empires is clear and always remains the same.  Secular writings explain the process in “natural terms”: GREED – the desire for wealth, power and control. The Bible presents the same process in “spiritual terms”: Turning from God, and exalting the desires and teaching of Man.

That exact process is at the heart of world events today, and at the heart of our own cultural malaise. It is wrapped in what I had here-to-fore referred to as “The Liberal Progressive Agenda”, but now that highfalutin, obviously academically inspired label, has come out of the closet and stands in the spotlight. It’s true identity is revealed in its proud new name: “The Democrat Socialist Party.” (DSP) These are not mine, but their own words.

The agenda of the “DSP” seems to be under the umbrella of a huge, bureaucratic government that believes the more “it” can make the populace dependent on government, the more “it” can control the populace.  “It” presents its case by assuring us, “this will make things better” (Obamacare or “Critical Race Theory” which, by the way, is being forced down the throats of school systems across our country. Parents…wake up!!).

“It” believes in the distribution of wealth. (Those who have earned wealth and status should be mandated to share it with those who have not); “it” believes in high taxation to keep the “gravy train” coming for illegal immigrants and other select socialist beneficiaries. “it” believes in chip, chip, chipping away at traditional values on which this country was founded, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, traditional family values, and religious freedom. “It” professes freedom of speech, yet vilifies anyone who expresses a different opinion. Hence, political correctness or name calling such as racist, white privilege, xenophobe, or homophobe is becoming common practice!

“It” professes a disdain for “Wall Street”, yet allows those who further the DSP to become billionaires at taxpayer expense.  “The Green New Deal”, and the abhorrent “Abortion Industry” are perfect examples. “It” keeps people divided rather than unified, as seen in today’s racial tension. The flames of that tension are fanned by such radical groups as “Black Lives Matter” and “Antifa”. And now for the last, but not least, on my list: “It” never lets a crisis go by without making political gain, such as the border crisis, and the Coronavirus fiasco.  (This list is by no means complete, but it serves my purpose for this article.)

This agenda is propagated by an intelligentsia that believes that the more “gray area” it can create around traditional values (traditional family unit, religious freedom, tolerance, etc.) the more it has wiggle-room to redefine and advance its agenda. If this effort is supported by collaborating forces such as government, the press, and wealthy backers, they can keep this “new way of thinking” in the spotlight, and the effect will quickly become a numbed-down and dumbed-down society. Therefore, what used to be valued and thought of as “right” is slowly slipping away, and a “new norm” is taking its place.  That is exactly what happens when the teachings of man are exalted over the teachings of Jesus.

So, do the above Prophecies and Scriptures describe what is happening today?  No doubt there is persecution of Christians and Christian teaching around the world.  No doubt our culture has twisted and violated the teachings of God.  No doubt there are scoffers, and no doubt there is an attempt to redefine “right” and “wrong”.  The Bible is clear about what happens when people and nations continue to turn away from God.  There is calamity and destruction!  But if we repent and turn back to Him, He is faithful to hear our cries.  “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.”  (2Chronicles, 7:14)   Christ-followers…if there was ever a time for fervent prayer for our country, the time is NOW!  May God have mercy on America.

Please feel free to respond to this posting, and please “like” and PLEASE share this with other social media friends.

May God Bless Ya…

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…I’m in Popi’s New York Diner in Clearwater, Fl. waiting for Pam to completer her new Doctor’s appointment. I have a pretty decent wait, so it seems like a good time to start my blog. This will be a continuation of last week’s posting entitled, “We’re Called to Love Our Neighbor. “How Do I Do That?” Since this series of blogs is targeted for Unbelievers, I want to take a different approach that I hope will speak to those who are not yet in Christ. The upfront approach, and the indispensable approach, is for YOU to make the decision to accept Jesus Christ as YOUR Lord and Savior. “Why is that so important” you ask? Because that act of sacrifice was the price God was willing to pay for YOUR salvation.”

Ephesians 1- 5 substantiates that answer: “You were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying (unbeknownst to you) the devil (satan) – the commander of the powers in the unseen world.  He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature, we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins”, He chose to give us “a second chance at life”, both physical life AND spiritual life. When we accept His “Gift of Grace” (Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord), we are immediately justified in His eyes, meaning our sins are immediately forgiven because we are covered with the blood of Jesus. But there’s more!  Now YOU qualify for eternal life because YOU are in Christ!

That is the unconditional, unending, unfailing LOVE that God has for YOU! He was willing to pay YOUR sin-debt with the blood of His beloved Son, so YOU could/can be grafted into His family. This was His plan, even before He created YOU. 2 Corinthians 5:17 explains this process. “You are a new creation in Christ. The old is gone, meaning you are no longer a slave to your sinful nature; the new has come”, meaning the new indwelling Holy Spirit now empowers you to make decisions that bring honor and glory to God.

YOU, My Dear Friend, have just been transformed!  Not only did God provide for your eternal life, but the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit means we can be victorious in this fallen world…right here, right now. “And how is that”, you ask? The Holy Spirit will, when YOU call Him into action, become your source of wisdom, courage, strength, perseverance, patience and joy. His purpose is to strengthen YOU to rise above YOUR circumstances and YOUR feelings. In short, He will lead YOU into all truth – God’s Truth!. That last statement is substantiated by Ephesians 1:14: “The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give you everything that He promised, and that He has purchased you to be His own child. He did this so you will praise and glorify Him!” How awesome is that? He has done it all for YOU. All you have to do is accept His Gift of Grace.

This is the beautiful message of the Gift of Grace. It is the eternal gift that keeps on giving forever. For those who are in Christ, it’s yours. For those who forgo this opportunity, this is what you will miss. 1 Corinthians 1:9 tells us, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind can conceive what God has prepared for those who love Him.” God is limitless. His love is limitless, and His blessings are limitless. The same way God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to tell us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, My ways are not your ways. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”; I believe we can make the same assumption that we, with our finite minds and limited 5 senses, could not possibly grasp the beauty, the power, the grandeur of God’s majestic preparation for our Paradise.

Apostle John, however, does give us a glimpse of what he witnessed in Revelation 21:3-4: “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people. They will be His people and God Himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning, or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” He goes on to tell us that “the sun and the moon need not shine, for the glory of God gives eternal light to everything.” (vs.22)

Because Christ died for OUR sins, past, present and future sins (just as the Scriptures said), and He was buried, BUT was raised from the dead on the third day, (just as the Scriptures said), this is what that means for us. Just as everyone dies now because WE ALL inherited the sin-nature of Adam and Eve (the first inhabitants in the Garden of Eden), everyone who is in Christ has already conquered death and has been promised eternal life. (just as the Scriptures said.) This WAS GOD’S PLAN, even before He created YOU!

But some may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have? Apostle Paul addresses this matter. “Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we physically die. These bodies are buried in brokenness, but will be raised in glory; they are buried in weakness, but will be raised in strength; they are buried as natural human bodies, but will be raised as spiritual bodies.” (1 Corinthians 15:43-44) Our natural bodies wear out and give way to pain, sickness and suffering and death. Our eternal bodies, however, are immortal bodies and they will last forever, never again to experience pain, sickness, suffering or death. God has provided for our victory over sin and death by giving us eternal life to enjoy with the Heavenly Host, and our Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

Another question that is frequently asked is this: “Will we see and recognize our loved ones?”  When Jesus walked out of the tomb, He was clothed in His resurrection body. He was seen and recognized by Mary, the apostles, and as many as 500 other followers. When we are clothed in our new bodies, should we not expect the same? I mean, how great would be the disappointment if we are to be with our loved ones, but could not recognize them? That is simply not God’s nature. He has blessed us with lavish gifts in this life; no doubt He will reward us with even greater blessings in Paradise.

Paradise and eternal life are our prizes at the end of this race. But what makes our new home “Paradise” is the fact it will be without Sin. We are told in Revelation 21:8, 21 that “unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, liars, and all who are dishonest – their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter the New Jerusalem!  Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life can enter, referring to those of us who are in Christ!

As I said in last week’s blog, “When we come to the end of this life’s journey, the only decision that we made in this life that will matter is this: “Did YOU accept God’s Gift of Grace?” (Jesus Christ as YOUR Lord and Savior.)  Romans 6:23 very clearly portrays the result of that decision: “For the wages of sin is death (physical death and spiritual death), but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.) BE WISE IN THIS DECISION. It has eternal consequences, and there are no do-overs.

Feel free to respond to this message, and please share with other social media friends…especially unbelievers.

May God Bless You Abundantly,

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…It’s Monday, around 12:00 noon, and I just published my weekly blog a few hours ago. I had some plans for today, but I have been strongly led to start another blog, so here I am again. I believe this prompting is rooted in yesterday’s message at SeaGlass church, because the topic was, “Loving God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. I’ve continued to think about that message since I left church, and quite a few ideas began to take shape in my mind. So, I’m going to be obedient and start writing. Let’s see where this takes me.

Whenever the term “love” is used in the Bible, it designates the highest form of love…Agape Love. This form of love is unconditional, unending, unfailing, self-sacrificial love, the kind of love that Jesus demonstrated when He was on this earth.  He healed everyone that came to Him; He championed the poor and the oppressed; He demonstrated Kingdom principles by the way He lived His life, and He gave all honor and glory to His Father by stating, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He does what the Father tells Him to do.” (John 5:19) Everything Jesus did when He was on earth was intended to be an example for us to follow.

In fact, since we’re now under the New Covenant rather than the Old Covenant, Jesus took advantage of this by raising the bar at this encounter. When challenged by an important religious leader, who was hoping to entrap Him with His answer, Jesus was asked, “What is the greatest of the 10 Commandments?” He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the teachings of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22: 37-40)

This distinction is important because under the Old Covenant, Man tried to earn God’s favor through his own effort. That was a miserable failure! (Ref. Romans 5:6) Under the New Covenant, we already have favor with God because we’re in Christ. Now our good works ARE NOT to earn His favor; it’s our way of saying “Thank You, Jesus” for what you did for me! God has now empowered us, through His Gift of Grace, with the ability to do things we could never have done before through our own effort. Take for instance Jesus’ call: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  “Love him”, you retort; “I don’t even like him!” I’ll never be able to do that!”  Well, let me give you some encouragement.

One Scripture that gets miserably misquoted is 1 Corinthians 10:13: “Remember the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted (or challenged) He will show you a way out so you don’t give in.”  That is the truth!  However, the popular misconception of that Scripture is, “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.” Wowzer-zowzer…try loving your unlikable neighbor, or forgiving a former foe, or resisting that lustful glance at a sexy attraction. As promised, God will give you a way out, if YOU get out of the way and let the Holy Spirit guide your steps, or give you the right words. “And how do I do that”, you ask? You first humble yourself and say “Holy Spirit, give me your wisdom, your courage, your strength, your patience, your words to speak – whatever it is you need to empower you to bring honor and glory to God, and every promise in the Bible says He will answer that prayer.

All of what I have just written is a prologue to what I believe is my message for the next few weeks. I want to focus on “loving my neighbor” and what that may look like from my perspective. A few months ago, I wrote a series of nine blogs to Unbelievers entitled, “Don’t Miss the Great Feast; All Are Invited!”. I enlisted the help of Believers who are Meetpastordan Readers, and asked them to forward these blogs to Unbelievers that they know. Their response was quite good. Therefore, I would like to use that same procedure for disseminating the “Good News” in this series.

Since I have this platform, I want to use it to further God’s Kingdom in this fallen world. Romans 10:15 tells us: “How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who bring good news”, or in this case, “proclaim the ‘Good News” (my edit) When the chips are down, or if you prefer, at the end of our journey on this earth, only one decision made during this lifetime will matter: “Did you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” If YES, you will spend eternity in Paradise with God, Jesus and the heavenly host. If NO, you will be condemned to eternal separation from God.” How horrific!  It breaks my heart to know that people will be condemned just because they may never have heard the Truth of God’s Word – “The Good News!” This series of blogs is rooted in my intent to show my love for my neighbor.

I want to do everything I can through these blogs to give Unbelievers the same opportunity I had for redemption. (FYI…I was an Unbeliever and an Atheist for 25 years.) I hope you will take five minutes to read each of the blogs in this series. If you are an Unbeliever, and you don’t understand the references I’ve made, I would suggest going to my website and clicking on “blog”, (www.meetpastordan.com). Scroll down the list of titles in the right-hand column until you come to, “Don’t Miss the Great Feast…” You will probably find the answer in those nine blogs. If you have questions (or criticisms), please respond to me at drpresgr@gmail.com , or you can call me at 314-799-7075. What have you got to lose? (well, actually…you’ve got “salvation” to lose!)

So, let’s start at the beginning with a few basics, then I’ll make a giant-leap forward to what happens at the end of this life’s journey. We are told in the Bible that “long ago, even before He created the world (and Man(kind), God had a plan for Man’s (our) redemption.(Ephesians 1:4)  You see, God knew that Man (we) were going to sin at the first opportunity. That happened in The Garden of Eden when the first inhabitants, Adam and Eve, “sinned” by being disobedient to God’s directive. Therefore, that Spiritual connection that originally existed between God and Man, (us) was severed, leaving us to wrestle with the dilemma of overcoming sin through our own best effort.

Romans 5:6 is our report card on that effort. “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time to die for us sinners!  In other words, when we proved our inability to save ourselves, God sent Jesus into this world to shed His blood as payment for OUR sins.  IF WE accept this Gift of Grace, WE WILL BE SAVED!  If YOU are saved, YOU WILL inherit eternal life. I’m telling YOU this so YOU won’t miss out. The fun really begins in the New Jerusalem, (the re-created world; the fulfillment of God’s promises; Paradise), and it will last FOREVER!!!. Do you ever wonder about all of the galaxies out there? Hmm.. I sure do…  Hope to see YOU next week…and I hope to see You in the New Jerusalem.  (Believers…please share this Good News with Unbelievers.)

Feel free to respond to this message, and please share with other social media friends.

May God Bless You abundantly,

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)

Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…In these crazy times in which we are living, there is no shortage of awe-inspiring messages, or outrageous messages, that pique my interest. While no doubt my favorite subjects are the love of God, as manifested through the Gospel of Grace, the power of the Holy Spirit, the promises of God, and the faithfulness of God, but I have to admit that sometimes news headlines attract my attention too. I’ve always been interested in politics, so when I can combine these two subjects, it’s hard for me to pass up that opportunity. This is especially true when I can see blatant discrepancies between the headlines and the truth of God’s Word. I am drawn to write because it gives me the opportunity to expose the consequences of the lie when compared to God’s truth. Sometimes I try to do this in a humorous way, meaning “are you serious?”, and other times I want it to pack a wallop. With this one, you can be the judge.

There is a particular interest in end-times prophecy today. That should not be surprising, because at no time in history have so many warning signs lined up like we see in our world today. Let me give you some examples. Matthew 24 reveals this information: “Jesus’ disciples came to Him and asked, ‘When will all of this take place? And will there be any signs ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world?’ Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in My name claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. Nations will go to war against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms; there will be famines, floods, and earthquakes in many parts of the world. All of this is only the first of birth pains, with more to come. You will be arrested, persecuted and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. Many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.”

Apostle Paul shared this information with his mentee, Timothy: “The last days will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money.  They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving, and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and will love pleasure rather than God. They will act as if they are religious, but will reject the power that could make them godly.” (2Timothy 3:1-5)

So, you might be asking yourself, “How does this relate to today’s title?” Well, I just listed 32 Scriptural warning signs designating the end of this world and the second coming of Jesus Christ. How many of these signs do you see playing out in our culture today? Now let me ask you this? Do you see climate change listed among those warning signs? I asked that because Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently stated with certainty that “unless climate change (The Green New Deal) is enacted, the world will end in 12 years.” Hmm…I wonder where she is getting her information to speak with such authority, especially when Jesus revealed to His disciples that “no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not the angels in heaven nor the Son Himself. Only the Father knows.” (Mark 13:32)

In the second paragraph, Matthew 24:11 tells us, “Many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.” As Christians, we are told to be discerning, to watch and pray. That can only happen if we know the Truth found in God’s Word. The newest, latest and greatest revelations are counterfeit if they don’t line up with God’s Word!  Enduring to the end requires rejecting such false teachings. Matthew 24:13 tells us that “only those who endure to the end will be saved.”

Unfortunately, there have always been false prophets, and today is certainly no exception. A.O.C. is only one of many, and she, no doubt, is an easy target. When you look deeper into the prophecy (or “the message”, whichever you want to call it) you will absolutely discover a hidden agenda. The prophets referenced in the Bible, and even those today with a gift of prophecy, were/are moved to speak by the Holy Spirit. There is a sacred purpose for their message. With false prophets, there is an agenda attached to their message that is most often self-serving, or promoting a political position, a financial position, or a power-grab.  In other words, their message is designed to deceive.

Relating all of this to our culture today, who can you believe, or what can you believe? Many people will answer, “science”. Realistically, science is constantly evolving. What was the latest, greatest discovery fifty years ago has most likely been replaced by a newer “latest and greatest” discovery? What was considered the “social norm” forty years ago, has most likely fallen out of favor with today’s culture. What was “in style” thirty years ago has most likely been discarded by today’s “in crowd”. The spiritual and moral values that were still visible twenty years ago have all but been abandoned by the popular idea that “truth is relative” (Your truth is not my truth, so who are you to judge me?) Somehow the idea that there exists “THE TRUTH” is being challenged by a large percent of our population. (According to the US Barna Survey Group, 44% of Americans believe that truth is relative based on circumstances or feelings.)

With the idea of truth being so nebulous in our culture today, it is easy for deception to gain a foothold. Those who do not stand on The Truth of God’s Word are easily swayed by lies. False prophets and hidden agendas count on that very circumstance. A.O.C. is the perfect example. Her passion seems to be concern about the future of our world’s very existence. But in reality, furthering the Green New Deal is the actual agenda. “And what exactly is that agenda?”, you ask. It is a Bill in congress that was proposed by the Democrat party, and championed by the “Squad”, that will cost $93 trillion dollars to implement. (Yes, that is really a “T” and not a “B”) The deceit contained in that Bill is how the money will actually be earmarked, (ie. who gets it, and how much?) So far, that information has not been forthcoming. (Hopefully we won’t get a repeat of a previous Democrat directive: “You have to pass the Bill before you can see what’s in it!”  Seriously?)

As with all new agendas, in order to further the agenda, the pillars that defined the old agenda must be destroyed. The two biggest obstacles that stand in the way of furthering the Democrat’s “Liberal Progressive Agenda” (Socialism) are our Founding Documents (the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution) AND the Holy Bible. No doubt that assault is playing out right now because that action is included in the 32 Scriptural warnings listed above.

Between the false prophets and the deception that is so prevalent, our culture is desperately seeking the confident assurance that comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ…they don’t yet know that He is the answer. (Church body…THIS IS OUR TIME!) Consequently, there has been an explosion in addiction issues, depression and anxiety issues, divorce rates, and suicides as people try to fill that proverbial “hole in their soul” with drugs, alcohol, sex, bigger homes, bigger boats, etc. That may work for a brief time, but quickly they have to return to “the well” for another “fix”. The Truth is…Jesus is the ONLY one-time fix! Unfortunately, people have been duped by lies, deceptions, and hidden agendas. That is what happens when truth becomes relative.

As Christ-followers, we have many planks in our platform of faith on which we stand. 1.“God didn’t give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of love, power and a sound mind.” – some versions say “self-control.” (Timothy 1:7); 2, He will never leave us or forsake us. (Joshua 1:5); 3. “No weapon formed against Him will prosper” (Isaiah 54: 17); 4. “God will mock the proud, but will exalt the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34)

So, you might be asking yourself, “What do I have to hold on to?”, and I would direct you to God’s promise: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Word will NEVER pass away”.  (my edit -Matthew 24:35) In other words, His Word IS The Truth we can all count on! Amen!!

Feel free to respond to this message, and please share with other social media friends.

May God Bless You abundantly,

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)