Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…For those of you who are regular readers of my blog, you know I have written many times about the fallen state of our culture. It is an easy topic to write about, because with each passing day, it seems that we sink deeper and deeper into the morass of hopelessness and despair.  Jerry Lee captured this unfulfilled state in his popular song of the 1980’s, “Lookin’ For Love in All the Wrong Places”. Well, I’ve spent a lifetime lookin’ for you; singles bars and good time lovers were never true. Playin’ a fools game hopin’ to win; and tellin’ those sweet lies and losin’ again. I was lookin’ for love in all the wrong places, Lookin’ for love in too many faces, searchin’ their eyes and lookin’ for traces, of what I’m dreamin’ of.” We could just as easily substitute “identity,” “fulfillment”, or “acceptance” for the term “love”, because the search is for that “elusive something” we’re “dreamin’ of” to make us feel whole; to fill that proverbial hole in our soul.

No doubt we are a culture that has lost its civil bearing, its moral compass, and its sense of pride and responsibility. Consequently, we’ve become susceptible to the lure of false gods, those captivating avenues of escape that promise nirvana, but instead steal our souls. These current statistics substantiate that claim: addiction rates are at an all-time high; the suicide rate is sky-rocketing; divorce rates are at their highest; psychosomatic illnesses such as stress, depression, and anxiety are escalating, and STD rates are soaring. So, why do you think this is happening? I’m not asking this as a rhetorical question. I, of course, have my own opinion, which I will share momentarily, but I welcome your reply with input on this matter. The more input, the better.

A principle of modern-day psychology is this simple statement: “What we put in our heads sets up an expectation, and an action most almost always follows.”  Since our culture has rebelled against the Judeo-Christian principles on which this great country was founded, secularism, based on the teaching of Man and worldly philosophies with a bias against Christian teaching, has become the norm. When that happens, it doesn’t take long for chaos to rear its ugly head. (A direct result of the information we put in our heads.)

In fact, our culture is looking more and more like the Israelites in the wilderness. They too rebelled against God and His ways (remember the golden calf?), only to suffer the consequences of disobedience. Without a standard of Truth on which to rely, (God’s Word), false gods become more alluring. The secular teachings of today are leading us down that same path of disobedience. Therefore, the brokenness we are witnessing in today’s culture is the consequence of yielding to the same lie that seduced Eve in the Garden; “You don’t need God, you can be your own god.”

So, what are false gods? The answer is simple: They are gods of “self”. They exalt self, they pleasure self, and they promote self. Anything that we put in place of the one true God Jehovah, anything else that captures our worship, is a false god. God was very explicit about this on Mt. Sinai. “You shall have no other God but me!” and, “You shall not make for yourself any idol, nor bow down to it or worship it.” (Exodus 20:2-17)

Because today’s culture has chosen to expunge God from its midst, the false gods of wealth, power, control, pleasure, convenience and self-aggrandizement have taken center stage. That has been encouraged by our secular culture, the liberal media, the entertainment industry, and a powerful marketing industry that tells us if we just had the next latest, greatest, newest and biggest gadget, we would be happy. The truth is, those things may satisfy for the moment, but they are temporal; sooner or later we have to look for the next shinny object to fill that never-satisfied God-shaped hole in our soul.  In other words, culturally speaking, we are living the myths found in Jerry Lee’s song: “We’re playin’ the fools game hopin’ to win”, but the good times were never true.” Why?  Because we have been looking for love, acceptance, identity, significance, joy, peace and serenity in all the wrong places.

When God created Man, He created us in His image. (Ref: Genesis 1:26-27) He created us for a relationship with Himself, and Man was spiritually connected to Him.  Adam and Eve lived in the Garden (Paradise), and they wanted for nothing; God communed with them and provided for all of their needs. That was His plan, and that’s the way it all began. (But there is a nugget of truth that must be stated here.)  We are told in Ephesians 1: 4-5, “Long ago, even before God created the world (and Man), He 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.” This was ALWAYS His plan!

Do you get that? Let that soak in for a moment. Because one of God’s majestic qualities is omniscience (He knows all; He can look into the future), He knew, even before He created us, that we were going to go astray.  He knew we were going to drift off the path that He had planned for us, and that Sin was going to enter the world, but He created us anyway! Yes indeed, He created us knowing full-well that He would have to provide a Redeemer, Jesus Christ, to do for us what He already knew we could not do for ourselves.

What an incredible display of unconditional, unending, unfailing love by our immutable God. Talk about Good News, this is it: God’s plan for our redemption is still in effect today!  Now, add this to the good news…He also foresaw the rise and fall of our country, and the resultant deplorable state of our culture right now.

History has shown, throughout both the Old and New Testaments, that when cultures fall away from their moral foundation, secularism quickly takes root.  And what is the antithesis of this worldly movement? The Word of God. Therefore, there has always been a concerted effort to marginalize, to demean and even ridicule the credibility of those old, outdated Truths. “And why is that?” you might ask. Because those time-honored Truths fly in the face of the self-serving motivation and agendas of the new power structure.

Take for example the move toward Socialism, which now defines what once was the Democrat Party. Right here – on display for all to see – are the false gods of wealth, power, control, and self-aggrandizement. And just like all other evil agendas, their promises are wrapped in a most appealing, yet elusive manner: Medicare for all, free college for all, equality for all. Their new battle cry is, “Depend on “our” government to take care of all of your needs!”  Sounds great, right?  What more could we want?  Well, keep reading.

Mark J. Perry, concurrently a scholar at American Enterprise Institute and professor of economics and finance at University of Michigan wrote an article in 2005 entitled, “Why Socialism Fails.” His opening statements included these two indictments: “Socialism is the ‘Big Lie’ of the twentieth century. While it promises prosperity, equality, and security, it delivered poverty, misery, and tyranny. Even if there are initial signs of success, those signs quickly fade as the fundamental deficiencies are exposed. It is the initial illusion of success that gives government intervention its pernicious, seductive appeal. In the long run, however, socialism has always proven to be a formula for tyranny and misery. Equality was achieved only in the sense that everyone was equal in his or her misery.”

At this point you may be thinking, “What is the answer to this sad dilemma?” And I would conclude, the answer is the same answer Apostle Paul gave at the end of his rant in Romans 7:25: “The answer is Jesus Christ.”  The truth is… the love, acceptance, identity, significance, joy, peace and serenity that everyone is longing for today, is found a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. No other religion or philosophy offers forgiveness of sin, a new life right here and now, and eternal life. But that is exactly what God’s Gift of Grace offers!   When our culture of hopelessness and despair comes face to face with the truth of God’s love, mercy and grace, it will be a no brainer. Only under the outstretched arms of God, not the strong arm of government, will we be in the “right” place to find the love we’ve been searchin’ for. Church, the body of Christ, the land is yours for the taking!

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

May God Bless You Abundantly,

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

Good Day, Meetpastordan Reader… When I look at #400, all I can do is smile from ear to ear and shake my head. If anyone would have suggested eight years ago that there might be a #100 blog, I would have laughed at them. In fact, when Jason and I were meeting to layout my website, he mentioned on two separate occasions that it should have a blog-tab, to which I replied, “I’m not a writer; I don’t even like to write.” Well, in retrospect, I would like to thank Jason for dangling this temptation right in front of me, because he opened up a new vista that I most likely would never have discovered. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I would like to be the first, and I invite others who might want to endorse this proclamation, to join me in declaring with a clarion voice: “I am not, nor do I ever consider myself to be, a writer!”  What I have learned to do in this process is to tap into my source of strength, and I’ve found a template that works for me. Also, I’ve been gifted with the best proof-reader ever, Danie Moore, who has kept me respectable for the past five years.  Thank You, Thank You, Ms. Danie!

No offense, but since it’s my celebration party, I would like to talk about the evolution of meetpastordan.com. I love this outlet now, because this has become my pulpit. Once I had the blog-tab, I decided I would use it for sending out selected scriptures weekly. But in a very short time, I wanted to expand the usage, so I decided to write to alcoholics and addicts who might be struggling with the 12 Step program. I am a product of that recovery process, and I credit it for saving my life. I understand the challenges inherent in that journey, and I love to share my experience, strength and hope with others. That has always been a fulfilling endeavor. (For more detailed information, visit my website at meetpastordan.com.)

Following that initial period, I shifted my focus to the Gospel of Grace. I was exposed to that message for the first time in 2002, and from that point forward, I was committed to presenting that same “Good News” in all of its splendor! Realizing the impact that truth was having on me, I couldn’t wait to share it with others who might be mired in the same “sea of lies” that led me deeper and deeper into the world of darkness.  Therefore, I first decided to write to unbelievers, since I was part of that ilk for the first fifty-five years of my life. Today, I find myself particularly saddened by this truth expressed in Hosea, 4:6: “People are destroyed because they don’t know Me.” “Romans 3:6 fans the flames of that tragedy: “For the wages of sin is death…BUT the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord!”  (I love the “BUT’s” that are so prevalent in God’s promises.) 😊

As I matured in my own walk with Jesus, I was drawn to addressing the challenges that everyone faces in this phase of our journey. This time can be a shock for those who thought that when they accepted Jesus as their Lord, their lives would immediately be more joyful, harmonious, prosperous, and filled with peace and serenity. No doubt, all of those gifts are indeed attainable, and 2 Peter 1:2, 4 spells out this process quite clearly: “The more we grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, His divine power gives us everything (not some things, not many things, BUT EVERYTHING) we need for living a Godly life. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises that enable us to escape the decadence of the world around us.” This process is described with one churchy-word: “Sanctification”, which means “becoming more Christ-like ourselves.” This is a never-ending process for all Christ-followers, but it is through this process that we begin experiencing the “great and precious promises” referenced above. Sounds easy, right? Well, let me clue you in on some important information.

Before you were in-Christ, you were part of the dark domain. You were born into it; you didn’t ask for it, and you didn’t even know it was the dark domain. Therefore, you just followed the natural course of events. For instance, the very first thing you, and all new arrivals (babies) experienced, was an awareness of “self”. Since we all have natural needs such as hunger, a desire for comfort, a desire for pleasure, and a need for security, as those needs are met, we begin developing patterns of behavior that are designed to fulfill our “self-centered” desires.

Here is the reason I used this example. God’s plan from the beginning was to fulfill all of man’s needs, and that was the pattern set forth in the Garden of Eden. But, as we know, Paradise came to an end when “Sin” entered the world. Satan, our enemy, deceived the first two inhabitants in the Garden by seducing them with this lie: (Satan) “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from the trees in the garden? (Eve) Of course we may eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden (commonly referred to as the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil) that we are not allowed to eat. If we eat from it, or even touch it, we will die. (Satan) You won’t die! God knows your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat from it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” (In other words, YOU can be your own god.)

That is still Satan’s favorite lie, but today he speaks it through the world. “Hey! Trust the world; WE will meet your need for “significance”; it is founded on performance + accomplishments; or your need for “security”, it is founded on status + recognition; or your need for “acceptance”, it is founded on appearance + admiration.” The world’s offerings always exalts YOU, but that should come as no surprise because Satan is the puppeteer behind the scenes, and his ploy is to keep you separated from becoming more Christ-like. In fact, that is the very definition of “Sin”; being separated from God’s Will for your life. (FYI: this spelling (small case) of “sin” is the behavior that results from being separated from God’s Will)

Make no mistake, when you make the decision to break free from the bondage of the dark domain and move into the light, YOU now have a target on your back. Prior to this awakening, Satan had you in the palm of his hand; you were just unaware of it. But now, your enemy will unleash a barrage of lies, accusations, doubts, and fears on you that is designed to cripple your walk with Jesus, and he is the master at his deceit. However, don’t let that dissuade you, because Jesus gave us these powerful words of hope in John 16:33: “In this world you will have trials and tribulations. BUT fear not, for I have overcome the world.” This is how that translates for us: Because we are in Christ, WE TOO have overcome the world! That IS a promise from the Lord, God Almighty!

Today, I live a life that is happy, joyous and free! I’ve been on both sides of the fence, and I gotta tell ya, nothing has ever fulfilled my needs like my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I had a wonderful career in music, and the memories and friends from that era are firmly embedded in my mind. But, to be perfectly honest, my priorities and motivations at that time were not always pure.  I loved what I did and I loved the people in my life, but self-centeredness clouded my decision making.

Here is THE TRUTH: God is a God of love, mercy and grace. In looking back, I can see His hand at work in my life many times; I was just a slow responder. Luckily, He never gave up on me. Therefore, since He gave me a second, third, tenth, twentieth opportunity to come home, I would like to offer you the same opportunity. So, I encourage you to be smarter thatn I was. Please, please, please…Don’t put “The Best” off until later. This was what I believe was my moment of surrender: “God, I don’t know if You’re there or not, but if You are, please help me. I know I can’t stop drinkin’ or druggin’ without You. So, if You’re there, please help me.”

Obviously, you don’t have to be an orator to get God’s attention. Go for it; take the plunge!  Your new life can take you places that you would have never dreamed possible!

Please feel free to respond to this posting, and please share it with other social media friends.

May God Bless you all…

Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)     (God willing, I’ll be back for another hundred) 😉

Good Morning, Meetpastordan, Readers…Pam and I were at a fund-raising event a couple of years ago that honored the leadership of an organization that helps the poor, the needy and the disenfranchised. At each place-setting was a card with this message: “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith.  Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love.  For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.”  

Most of you will recognize this as the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi.  I came across that card again yesterday when I was scavenging through a drawer looking for something else. I saw the card, then sat down and read and re-read it numerous times.   What beautiful words; what a timeless message, and what Truth!  I couldn’t help but think, “Can you imagine…?”

In this dark, perverted world in which we live today, the teachings of man have been exalted over the teachings of God. Therefore, the truth and the power of the Saint Francis Prayer have been, for the most part, snuffed-out. Today’s culture is characterized by sadness, hopelessness, and fear, which is fueled by hatred, anger, lying, and cheating. If you doubt that, I challenge you to turn on various news stations and compare the number of stories motivated by the attributes stated in the previous sentence, with the news-stories reflecting the attributes found in the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.

The offense of my last statement is enhanced even more when we realize that we are a nation that was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. When this great country lived and operated according to that blueprint, we experienced God’s blessings and were shielded by His protection. But unfortunately, we are now following the familiar path of every civilization or nation before its collapse. We have yielded to a world view that exalts secular teachings over God’s Word, and in order for that to work, God’s Word has to be ridiculed, marginalized and slandered at every opportunity. Just look around you; just listen to the news. Does this look like, or sound like paradise? What we are witnessing today is man’s best effort at playing God.

But, can you imagine what it would be like if someone were to step forward, clothed in humility and truth, exclaiming, “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace and Your love?”  Wow! Would he be exalted as the answer to our prayers, or would he be stoned to death for having the courage to speak contrary to worldly thinking?  Is our country ready for Godly leadership, or has it bought into the ways of the world for so long that it wouldn’t even recognize the life-jacket that was being made available?  Obviously, all who read this will have their own opinion, but it doesn’t hurt to dream…right?

The Holy Bible is resplendent with stories regarding the rise and fall of individuals and nations.  Quite simply, when individuals or nations were in line with God’s will, they were blessed.  When they were disobedient and out of line with God’s will, there was calamity, wars, fire and brimstone!

The lessons to be learned here are as clear as the proclamation that was sounded by prophets throughout the ages: “Repent!  Turn from your sins and turn to God!”  When people yielded to this message, they experienced mercy, as stated in 2 Chronicles 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 forgive their sins and heal their land.”  James 4:10 reinforces that message: “When you bow down (come in humility) and admit your dependence on the Lord, He will lift you up and give you honor.”  You can see the importance of humility (realizing your own insufficiency) in both of these Scriptures.  Contrast that with the teachings of man, which are patterned after Satan’s original lie in the Garden: “If you eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (as opposed to the tree of Life), you will become just like God In fact, you can be your own god.” (Ref. Genesis 2:17-18)

Now let’s look at those who follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.  We too are called to live according to the standards set forth in Saint Francis’ prayer, and we TOO know how hard it is to achieve that end!  In fact, humanly speaking, it is impossible for us to achieve it through our own effort.  But because we are in Christ, we have something the rest of the world doesn’t have.  It is our “secret weapon”. Our power comes when we realize our own insufficiency, and turn to the indwelling Holy Spirit. We ask Him to give us His wisdom, strength, courage, patience, insight, revelation, perseverance, whatever it is we need, to accomplish our calling. That is God’s gift to us so we can become the person He created us to be. (Ref. Ephesians 2:10)

Another challenging perspective contained in Saint Francis’ prayer is the stark contrast between this fallen world and the Kingdom of Heaven.  What is being replaced is “worldly attributes” with “Heavenly attributes.”  For instance, hatred is replaced with love, injury with pardon (mercy), doubt with faith, despair with hope, darkness (evil) with light (goodness), sadness with joy.  We are shifting the focus from “self”, and focusing on our fellow man: we are seeking to console rather than being consoled; we are seeking to understand rather than being understood; we are seeking to love rather than being loved; seeking to give rather than receiving, and seeking to forgive rather than being forgiven.  And the gift from all of this is knowing that ‘in dying to self, we are born to eternal life.”  Thank you, God!

Can you imagine a world like that?  There is one available to all Christ-followers…the Kingdom of Heaven.  As Christ-followers, we can begin experiencing the joy of that Kingdom perspective right here…right now.  But along with our joy comes these charges: to pray for revelation in the hearts and minds of those who do not know the Truth, and to pray for a leader who will have the anointing to lead our country back to its founding principles.

Can you imagine our nation fostering those principles??  I can!  I remember when our country had a moral compass; I remember when we recognized inalienable rights; I remember when this statement was revered: “All men are created equal”, and I remember when we pledged our allegiance to our country’s flag. Today, my solid foundation is found in this Scripture: “God works for the good in ALL things for those who love Him, and are called to His purpose.”  

I invite you to join me in prayer for this great country. James 5:16 tells us that “God reveres the prayers of the righteous.” Amen!

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

May God Bless You…

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

Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers…There is not a day that goes by when I don’t exclaim at least once, but more accurately, a few times, “How do people do life today if they are not in Christ?”  I mean, “has the world gone mad? Is there any hope for our culture that has become spiritually and morally bankrupt? Surely, I’m not the only one grieving about this! Have we lost all semblance of honor and integrity, of right and wrong, of devotion to one another, of faithfulness or trustworthiness? Where can we turn for security; who can we believe? All of these questions are legitimate questions, and I suspect that at least one, or maybe all of them, have invaded your mind at one time or another. The danger inherent with entertaining these questions is the fact they are the building blocks for fear!

The dictionary definition of “fear” is: “A distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, or pain, whether the threat is real or imagined; a feeling or condition of being ‘afraid.” (I would now like to add a Biblical perspective to that definition: “without hope”.) Fear is the root of these other unhealthy emotions: anger, hatred, depression, anxiety, jealousy, envy, lack of hope and stress, which can lead to these unhealthy behaviors: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasure, hostility, quarreling, selfish ambition, idolatry, and a dramatic increase in addictions, psychosomatic illnesses, higher divorce rates, suicides and many other forms of violence. The problem with these emotions and their resultant behaviors is…they open the door for satan to develop strongholds in your life.

What we see playing out all around us is nothing less than spiritual warfare. I know some of you reading this may think that statement is totally absurd, but the fact you don’t believe in it doesn’t make it any less true. Worldly teaching, which puts the emphasis on human nature, human resources and human intellect, has done everything it can to minimize and marginalize the existence of the spiritual realm as “foolish” talk. In MY book of truth, the Holy Bible, that arrogant condition is addressed in 2 Corinthians 4:4: “Satan, the god of this world, has blinded the minds and hearts of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.” In order to understand spiritual truths, you have to have the Holy Spirit in you. Unbelievers do not possess that gift. (Hopefully this will open your eyes to who is pulling the strings behind the absurdity we witness playing out day after day.)

Look back at paragraph 2 and re-read the list of unhealthy emotions and resultant behaviors. Can you see this barrage of detrimental emotions and behaviors plaguing our culture today? Fear is one of satan’s favorite tactics, because it produces consequences that are in opposition to God’s Truth and His Will. That statement is substantiated by 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-control.” Now let’s look at the emotions and behaviors that result from being obedient to the Holy Spirit: love, confident assurance, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross, and left them there.” (Galatians 5: 24)

Quite simply, faith or fear is the result of the voices you listen to in your head. Galatians 5:16- 18 explains this perfectly. “So, I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives you desires that are opposite from what your sinful nature wants. These two forces are constantly battling each other and your choices are never free from this conflict. But now that you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer a slave to your sinful nature.”  If you are in Christ, you have the indwelling Holy Spirit, which is God’s gift to you so you can rise above the wiles of your enemy, satan. Make no mistake, he has prepared an onslaught against you.  He is ruthless, and he wants nothing more than to shipwreck your best effort at becoming a follower of Jesus Christ.

Your only defense against satan and his lies, schemes and accusations is being grounded in the truth of God’s word. Ephesians 6:11-13 describes your defense: “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor (The Word of God – the Truth) so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the devil.  For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.  Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle, you will still be standing firm!”

Remember, if you let satan get you into a power struggle, he will win every time. Therefore, it is imperative that YOU take the reins to turn these battles into Truth struggles, the same way Jesus did when He was tempted in the wilderness. He stood on God’s Word and crushed satan three times. Notice that each of Jesus’ statements were preceded by the phrase, “It is written…” God’s armor is The Truth; Satan’s lies cannot stand up against God’s truth!

The two previous paragraphs should make it abundantly clear that spending time in the Holy Bible (the Word of God) is essential to growing in your relationship with Jesus. That Book is the source of God’s Truth, and it is by growing in, believing in, and experiencing those truths coming alive in your life that your faith grows. After all, the author of those magnificent words is God Jehovah of the Old and New Testament; He is the Creator of the Universe, the Godhead of the Trinity, the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, immutable, and the Alpha and Omega. That is also why the term “Bible” can also be viewed as an acronym: “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” Everything you need for sustaining a vibrant spiritual life is found in that book. What other source of claimed-to-be truths can possibly stand against this source?  The author Himself said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will last forever.” (Matthew 24:35)

Spiritual warfare is an inherent part of living in this world.  Non-believers think this talk is crazy, but the truth is, satan already has them in the palm of his hand; they are his pawns. His victory has been convincing them that he doesn’t exist. But now, consider this scenario. Unbeknownst to you, when you were born into this world, you were born into an eternal morality play entitled, “Good vs. Evil.” You didn’t ask for it, but like it or not, you are an actor in this play right now. The role you play depends on the choices you make throughout this life’s journey, and those choices have eternal consequences. You can choose to honor God (Good), or you can choose to honor satan by choosing “self” over God!. (Evil)  At the end of your time on this earth, your eternal destiny – either salvation or damnation – will be determined by the choices you made while here.

Satan’s most powerful lies are rooted in fear. So, when he comes at us – and he will – he already knows each of us intimately. (Remember, we were in his domain before we saw the light.) Therefore, by knowing our every weakness, he knows just what buttons to push to bring us down. BUT FEAR NOT, because Jesus has overcome the world!  Therefore, because we are in Christ, we too have overcome the world. Jesus has given us authority over all the evil schemes of the devil; we just have to believe that truth, then choose to walk in that victory. Rebuking satan (speaking boldly to him with Christ’s authority) might sound like this: It is written, “Satan, I am a Child of God!”  It is written, “Satan, Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!” “It is written, “The Spirit that is in me is greater than the spirit in this world!” It is written, “You are a liar, satan! I choose to stand on the Truth of God’s Word.”

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

May God Bless You Abundantly,

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

Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…When Pam and I left St. Louis and moved to Apollo Beach, Fl. in June of 2020, we did that expecting that I would join two Brothers in Christ that were already here, and together we would develop a joint ministry. Unfortunately, due to health issues and a resurgent second business career with my Brothers, that did not come to pass.  So, after a month of unpacking and getting resettled, I was beginning to feel like a “fish out of water”. To make matters worse, almost all the area churches were shut-down due to Covid, and the services I was watching on TV were not filling that proverbial “hole in my soul.”

One sleepless night, when I was consumed with a sense of unfulfillment, I got up and moved to the lanai. As I sat there, I began asking the Holy Spirit to direct my path and put me where He needed me. Almost instantaneously, I was directed to start an intercessory prayer group right here in Southshore Falls.  My first thought was a Moses-like thought: “I can’t do that. I don’t know anyone here.” But the seed was planted and it began to grow. Within a few days, I put a notice in the Southshore Falls Observer, introducing myself and explaining my plan; I invited people to join Pam and me at 7:00am Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Gazebo that overlooks one of our lakes. Our first meeting attracted three people; now it’s fourteen months later, and we are ten strong.

We have become our own little community, made up of caring, loving prayer warriors, right here in Southshore Falls. Others know we’re here and what we’re about, so it is not uncommon for us to get prayer requests while are out walking, or from people we meet at the pool, the gym, or the clubhouse. This morning when we met together, everyone had praise reports to share. Halleluiah! Our prayers are netting positive results, and people within our group, as well as others in the community, are taking notice. No doubt there is power in prayer, and that is what I want to write about today.

I want to begin by dispelling a myth. There is no such thing as a “bad” prayer or a “weak” prayer. Any prayer lifted up to God by anyone gets His full attention.  He delights in ANYONE who comes to Him; He will meet them wherever they are, and He wants to hear whatever they have to say!”  My experience with that last statement came after a forty-year hiatus from praying. I got on my knees and did the best I could do at that moment of pathos: “God, I don’t know if you’re there or not, but if you are, please help me stop drinkin’ and drugin’. I know I can’t do it myself. Please help me!” God answered that feeble-minded, whisky soaked, marijuana smelling prayer with a miracle. He lifted the compulsion to drink and drug at that moment. That was April 21, 2000, and I’ve continued to talk with Him daily. In return, He has kept me clean and sober!!

There are no rules or regulations concerning prayers. They come in all shapes and sizes. For instance, prayers can be “canned” prayers, meaning they are written out to be repeated by a reader. We had incredible prayers of this genera back at Grace Church-St. Louis called “Fellowship Prayers”. They were awesome! However, it is not about just reading the words; it’s about those words becoming engrafted in the reader’s heart and producing a transformation. These prayers can also serve as “seeds” with the intention of expanding and elaborating on the subject. There are also prayers that come from our hearts. They can be prayers of praise, prayers of petition, prayers asking for direction, or prayers expressing anger or dismay. David gave us numerous examples of each genera of these prayers in the Book of Psalms.

We are told in the Book of James, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” The story of Abraham praying on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah is an example of how God is moved by prayer. The Lord was going to destroy those cities because their sin was so great. But Abraham asked the Lord, “Suppose you find fifty righteous people living in that city – will you still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes?” The Lord replied, “I will spare the cities for their sake.” Abraham repeated the same plea for 45 people, then 40, then 30, then 20, then 10, and each time the Lord replied, “I will spare the cities for their sake.” (Genesis 18:20-32)

The Book of James also reveals this all-important truth about prayer. “If you are petitioning God for wisdom (or courage, or strength, or for healing…whatever your need may be), be sure your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty between God and the world (which means “doubt”) should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” Faith is the key element in receiving answers to prayers. Let me explain.

When you are petitioning God, you are, in essence, asking Him to bless you with the desires of your heart. However, there are three things that can stymie this process. First, God has something better in store for you; second, you are not yet mature enough to receive this blessing; third, you are asking for a blessing, but you are outside of His will. Maybe there are issues of doubt, anger or unforgiveness that first must be addressed. 1John 5:14 clarifies that last statement: “And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him.” (This means, anything that is in line with His will.)

Nothing pleases God more than our dependence on Him; He wants us to wholeheartedly believe in, and trust in the truth of His Word, and His promises!  In fact, He confirmed that in this Scripture: “As the rain comes down, and the snow falls from heaven – watering and producing crops for the farmer – so shall My Word go out and produce fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

Now let’s turn to the subject of spiritual healing. God has honored us with many promises in the Bible. (actually, in the area of three-thousand) When we stand on those promises and pray them aloud back to Him, He is thrilled because His Word is not coming back empty. For instance, there are many promises concerning spiritual healing. In Psalm 107:20, God said, “I sent My Word and Healed them.” Therefore, we pray, “God, your promise to us is, ‘I sent My Word and healed them!” (His “Word” was/is Jesus Christ. And how does Jesus heal? Both spiritually AND physically.) Now, proclaim that YOU are standing on the truth of this promise.

Again, God made this promise in Jeremiah 30:17, “I WILL restore your health and heal your wounds.” Again, we pray aloud, “God your promise to us is, “I will restore your health and heal your wounds!” Therefore, I am standing on this truth, and claiming what is rightfully mine! Because we are in Christ, we are heir to all the promises in the Bible. Therefore, healing is a done deal; it IS OURS to claim! Spiritual healing is part of the atonement. Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins; at the whipping post, He paid for our diseases. “By His stripes we ARE healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

This topic is one of the most complex, confusing and controversial topics with which to wrestle. But again, when we make these petitions to Him, we must be steadfast in our belief that God’s Word IS TRUTH. If God said it, IT IS DONE! There is no room for doubt or fear. Ephesians 1:3 tells us that “we are heir to every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms”, and one of those blessings is spiritual healing. Therefore, we are not hopeing when we pray for healing; we must have confident assurance that it will be manifested in the natural realm.  That can only happen IF we have total confidence in the author of these powerful words. “He cannot lie!”  (Titus 1-2) Amen!

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

May God Bless You abundantly,

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

Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…Happy Labor day to Y’all.  I know that today represents different things to different people.  For the students, it is one less day in the school week; for some people, it is a time of celebration with parades, speeches and athletic events; for many, it is a time of family activities, especially the traditional BBQ, but for all of us, it marks the end of summer.  If you look at the history of Labor Day, it was created by “the labor movement” in the late 19^th century and became a federal holiday in 1894.  Observed on the first Monday in September, Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of the American worker, and celebrates with a day “free from labor”.

History from a different perspective tells us that “Labor Day”, a day of rest, was part of Creation and was observed on the seventh day “when God rested from his work of creation.” (Genesis 2:3)  No doubt that is an example that was given to us to follow.  Jesus gave us yet another perspective on “rest” when he said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  That perspective is not about parades, BBQ’s, speeches, or even family events.  It is about finding peace and serenity from the toils and stresses of life, and using that time to draw closer to God.

In the spirit of Labor Day, I am going to use this time to rest and enjoy my peace and serenity.  Therefore, I am going to stop writing at this point and repost my very first blog from 2013. Enjoy your “day of rest”, and I’ll be back next week.

Today Is a New Beginning

Well, My Friends….today is already a glorious day, and its only 6:00 am!  I just walked in the house from my morning walk(s); first through beautiful Laurel Park with Glenn (a handsome golden retriever/chow mix) and Cliff (an adorable, ornery sheltie); then a longer excursion through our neighborhood with the love and joy of my life, Ms Pam (my wife).  That is the entire Presgrave family, and I thank God each day for blessing me so richly.  But today is uniquely different in another way; it is 69 degrees right now IN ST. LOUIS on September 2, 2013.  Wow!  That indeed is a treat!!

But as I sit down in front of my computer with a fresh cup of hot coffee, I am well aware that the new activity that really makes this a special day for me is preparing to write my first blog.  I am looking forward to these postings each Monday, because I love sharing messages that are positive, up-lifting and encouraging.  Today I am able to share messages of that nature, but that was not always the case (as you will see if you peruse my website, www.meetpastordan.com).

Because of the journey I have been on for the past thirteen years and my willingness  to embrace change,  I  have  been blessed today with a life that is happy, joyous and free.  Since I have been given a “second chance at life”, I cannot help but share that good news with anyone who will listen. Through this journey, I have learned  not only a lot about me, but also about this experience called life. Today instead of trying to hide it, I take responsibility for who I was.  Now I proudly proclaim who I am in Christ.  That’s the way it works…. “we believe that a power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity” (Step II of the 12 Step Recovery Program), then we reach out to share our experience, strength and hope with others.

The focus of my website is about enhancing the quality of people’s lives.  I am both thrilled and privileged to be a “hope dealer” today.  As the psalmist David proclaimed in Psalm 92, vs.4 “you thrill me Lord, with all you have done for me!  I sing for joy because of what you have done for me”   The truth is….that freedom and joy is available to anyone who has the courage to “go for it”!

Is there anything that is keeping you from living life to the fullest?   If yes…Take the plunge! 

I’m already looking forward to next Monday’s posting!!

May God bless ya,

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

Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is to lead us into all truth. We see this when Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then He asked, “What about you? Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Messiah, Son of the living God.” Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you through human reasoning, but by revelation from My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16: 13-17) This is how the Holy Spirit leads us into all spiritual truth and understanding; it is not through our own understanding, but through revelation.

I began with this example, because the subject I want to write about today can only be understood on the spiritual level through revelation of a fundamental truth. Now having said that, the obvious question should be, “Is there another answer, or definition of this truth, in the natural realm?” The answer to that all-important question is, “yes”, but the answer in the natural realm has the opposite meaning of its spiritual counterpart. The truth in question here is the concept of “surrender.”

In the natural realm, the worldly concept of “surrender” is defeat. When one surrenders, he has given up; he has been overpowered. In the spiritual realm, the result is quite the opposite. When one surrenders, he has just opened the door for empowerment; he will be equipped to do something he here-to-fore could not do through his own effort. (That supernatural power IS the success factor in living the abundant life that Jesus Christ promised us.)

Let’s look at how these “words of truth” are used in the classic hymn, “I Surrender All.”  “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.
(Refrain) I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.  (Vs.2)  All to Jesus I surrender; Make me, Savior, wholly Thine; Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine. (back to Refrain)

Let’s look at these word groupings: “All to Him I freely give”, “…love and trust Him”, “In His presence daily live.”, “Make me, Savior, wholly Thine.”  All of these lovely, encouraging words require an action on our part, and that action is “surrendering”. We must become willing to surrender “self” to something greater than ourselves.  But the truth is, we can’t surrender until we know without a shadow of a doubt that we can trust the object of our faith. As Christ-followers, our object of faith is Jesus; we believe, with confident assurance, that He is who He says He is, and that He did what He came to do.  We know that because we have experienced the truth of His word, and His promises, come alive in our lives. Therefore, we have become the living word!

Let’s take for example, Jesus’ directive to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid…trust Me!” (Mark 5:35-36) To be afraid is our natural response to unwelcome or challenging information such as Jairus had just received: “Your daughter is dead.” But Jesus challenged him to rise above his natural inclination when He said, “Don’t be afraid, trust Me.” So, what would be required for that trust factor to kick in?

We are told that Jairus came to Jesus and pleaded with Him to come to his house to heal his daughter; “She is about to die. Please come and place your hands on her; heal her so she can live.” (Mark 5:23) Obviously, Jairus knew who Jesus was; perhaps he had witnessed previous miracles. But when he came to Jesus, he came with the confident expectation that Jesus could and would heal his daughter. Jairus knew he could trust the object of his faith, that special One, the One with supernatural power.

The quality that sets Christianity apart from other religions is the fact it is not based on works, but on faith and Truth…God’s Truth.  Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must first believe He exists, and that He rewards those who seek Him.” God created us for a relationship with Himself, therefore He revealed His character, His standards, and His Truth by speaking through prophets. “Above all you must understand that no prophecy or Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God.” (2Peter 1:20-21) Those Scriptures have been collected over the centuries and codified into what is now referred to as the Holy Bible. 2Timothy 3:16-17 describes its purpose. “All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful to teach us what is true and what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out, and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing He wants us to do.”

When Jesus Christ walked on this earth, He was the Word of God incarnate. John 1:14 tells us, “The Word became flesh and dwelled among us.” Jesus was the living Word, that is why He told His disciples, “If you follow My teachings, you will know the truth (God’s Truth), and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) This is also the root of our faith and trust, because it is not just the words that were spoken, but our faith and trust is in WHO spoke those words!  The same God that said, “Let there be light” is the same God that said, “Don’t be afraid…trust Me!”  Wow!  Let that sink in.

Before one can surrender, one first has to trust and believe. God’s awesome Truth (His Word) is the foundation upon which we build our faith, because all of those words were spoken by the Creator of the universe, the Godhead of the Trinity, the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, immutable, and timeless One. While we can stand in awe of His majestic qualities, we can never really relate to them because we are limited by our finite thinking. These attributes are far beyond our human capacity to relate, but we certainly can relate to Him through His love. Therefore, God revealed Himself to us through His Word so we could come to know Him, then choose to participate in that all- important relationship. God is described in 1John with only one word: LOVE! In fact, 1John 4:19 tells us, “We love because He first loved us”, and 1John 1:5 gives us another perspective of His love: “God is light; there is no darkness in Him!”  

So, the question might be, “How does all of this relate to surrender?” And my answer would be, “without surrendering to a power greater than ourselves (the Holy Spirit), our natural tendency is to try to overcome through our best effort.” (In fact, that describes the Old Covenant.) Before Christ came, Man proved himself to be “utterly helpless” (ref. Romans 5:6) to overcome his sinful-nature, regardless of how hard he tried.) But now that God’s plan for our salvation has been implemented (ref. Ephesians 1:3-14), those who are in Christ have been gifted with the indwelling Holy Spirit so we can be victorious in our battle with the enemy. (Ref. Ephesians 6:10-13).

Here is the bottom line. In order for the Holy Spirit to work in and through us, we have to get out of the way (we have to surrender) and call on the Spirit to give us His wisdom, His courage, His strength, His perseverance, His words to speak, whatever it is we need, to make choices that bring honor and glory to God. When we surrender to the Holy Spirit, we allow ourselves to tap into a supernatural power that will lead us to a victory, which is already ours to claim!  2 Peter, 1:3 confirms this: “The more we grow in our relationship with Jesus, His divine nature (the Holy Spirit) gives us everything we need for living a godly life.” Surrendering is the first step in the process of becoming the person God created you to be. Have YOU surrendered to Jesus? Remember, “to surrender” means, you’re all in!

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

May God Bless You abundantly,

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

Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…During this past week, I had various discussions with friends where the subject of faith became the central topic. The point of concern was not so much about what faith is; the dilemma was centered around “how do I grow in my faith”. I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed those conversations, because I think that is a hazy area for many Christians. Therefore, I am drawn to that topic today because the issue of faith can be a sticky-wicket unless it is soundly rooted in Spiritual Truth.

The truth is, we operate on faith every day of our lives. When we walk into a room and sit down on a stool, we are operating on faith; we believe the stool will support us. When we come to a green light, we continue right through the intersection believing that the people facing the red light will stop. When we flip a light switch, we expect (or have faith) that it will turn on the light. So, what are the commonalities in these three examples? Well, we have experienced the truth that the stool can support us, that the cars will stop, and that the light will turn on. But what about this…if you come to a suspension bridge across a deep cavern, and the bridge looks old, some of the planks are splintered and moldy, and the ropes suspending it are frayed and moldy, how likely are you to volunteer to be the first to cross? Probably not very likely, right? Since you have not experienced the trust-worthiness of this bridge, you are doubtful and fearful about its reliability. Therefore, I believe that we can postulate that our faith is related to our experience with reliability.

The Bible presents this definition of faith in Hebrews 13:1: “Faith is the confident assurance that what we hope for will come to pass; it is the evidence of things not yet seen.” Neil Anderson, author of “Victory Over the Darkness”, stated that Spiritual faith is not so much about “what we believe”, but rather, “in whom we believe”. God Jehovah of the Old and New Testament, is THE object of our faith. He created us for a relationship with Himself, and not just for a here and now relationship, but for an eternal relationship!

Relationship is a key word here, because for a relationship to exist, it is imperative that both parties desire to participate in the endeavor. So, you might be asking yourself, “How can we, as finite human beings, relate to God, who is a spirit?” Well, the good news is…because God is God, He knows a thing or two about relationships. He gave us free-will so we can choose to enter into that relationship, then He chose to reveal Himself to us so we could come to know Him. He did that by speaking through prophets. He told us Who He is, what He thinks, what He thinks about us, what His plans are, what His plans are for us, and what His standards are. In addition, He made many covenants, and more than three thousand promises to His proudest creation.

Now let’s take a close look at the character of God. He is described with one word in 1John 4:7: “God IS LOVE! (my edit) Notice it doesn’t say that He is “loving”, or “has loved”, or “will love.” John was very emphatic that the very essence of God IS LOVE!  It is His character, His nature. Nothing emanates from Him that isn’t rooted in love. Therefore, love, forgiveness, mercy, grace, compassion, acceptance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, holiness, wisdom, freedom and patience define His nature. “There is NO darkness in Him!” (1John 1:5) Anything that is not rooted in these qualities is from the dark domain.

Now let’s look at God’s Majestic qualities. He is Creator of the Universe and all that is in it. He is Godhead of the Trinity; He is Alpha and Omega (the beginning and the end); He is omniscient (all knowing); omnipotent (all powerful); omnipresent (capable of being everywhere at once); immutable (unchangeable over time). God introduced Himself to Moses by saying, “I AM”, (Exodus 3:14) meaning He IS everything!

The manifestation of God’’s love can be found in His Word. His Word is Truth, Life, Power, Wisdom, Courage, Strength, Perseverance and Joy! Only God, as manifested through Jesus Christ, is totally satisfying. The answer to every question or desire is found in His Word.

Because of God’s love for His proudest creation, He did everything to bring to fruition the reality of that all-important relationship. For instance, when Man(kind) proved its inability to overcome the dilemma of sin, God provided a Redeemer to save us from ourselves. Once we were redeemed, meaning made right in God’s eyes, He grafted us into His family as His children. Now we qualify for eternal life because we are sin-free!  Revelation 21:27 makes that crystal-clear: “Nothing evil will be allowed to enter (the New Jerusalem – or heaven, as some might say); Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (This is a reference to those of us who are in Christ.)

Wonderful, right? Well, the gift doesn’t stop yet. God didn’t forget about those of us who are still living in this fallen world. He knows we are no match for the wiles of our adversary, satan, so He empowered us with the indwelling Holy Spirit so we can rise above the decadence of the world to become the person He created us to be. These three gifts, forgiveness of sin, eternal life, and the indwelling Holy Spirit make up what I will call “our salvation package.” Everything I have just written is rooted in the truth that God IS LOVE!

The subject of this blog is “How Do I Increase My Faith?” I believe it all begins with the proper understanding of who God and Jesus Christ are. First, they are one; they are the same. THEY ARE…

No doubt there is a plethora of books written on this subject, so what I have written here, while true, only scratches the surface. I challenge you to read slowly, and with prayer and meditation, the above paragraphs. God’s Word is filled with wisdom, knowledge, truths, and promises. The more these truths and promises become engrafted in your heart, and the more you participate in the process of becoming, transformation takes place because YOU are now the living word. You have experienced these truths and promises coming true in your life. Therefore, your faith has been growing proportionately to your transformation. Thank you God for your incredible plan, available to all Man(kind)!

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

May God Bless You abundantly,

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

Good Day, Meetpastordan Readers and Friends…I was contacted recently by a young lady named Rhonda Underhill. She asked if I would be willing to publish, under my banner, a blog that expresses her love for our great country, veterans and first-responders.  I asked her to send to me a copy of her blog, which, I’m proud to say is right in line with my thinking. Her passion and compassion for her subject matter was obvious, so I feel privileged to be able support her effort to reach a new audience.

Thank you Rhonda for contacting me; I hope we can collaborate again in the future. Best wishes, and may God bless you as you continue to write.

We benefit from the privilege of living in a free country every single day. Those who serve our country offer themselves for that privilege, something the Bible explains is tantamount to the ultimate sacrifice. So why do we only celebrate our Armed Forces a few days per year?

I’m not advocating getting rid of Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and other military holidays — quite the contrary. However, if these are the only days you pay a second thought to our nation’s military, are you really doing enough to honor their sacrifice?

The truth is, veterans and service members willingly make sacrifices  to protect your freedoms, and as we’ve said before at Meet Pastor Dan, they deserve more than just a “bumper-sticker slogan”.

It’s time for Americans to step up and give our armed forces the honor and support they deserve. Whether you’re a faith leader, a business owner, or just a neighbor and friend, here are eight ways you can do more to serve our military.

Pray for (and with) our troops

Prayer is a powerful reminder of the ongoing sacrifices made by our nation’s troops, veterans, and their families. Use this collection of prayers to ask God to bring protection, courage, and peace to the military community. But don’t just pray for our military. Pray with them too. Praying together invites God’s presence and encourages faith and spiritual connection.

Support military spouses and families

Prayer is important, but military families also need practical hands-on help. That’s especially true when a military spouse is left behind due to deployment or death. How can you help military spouses cope with challenges of single parenthood, whether temporary or permanent? Outreach to military families can be big, like fundraising for surviving spouses and children, or small, like offering a helping hand and listening ear to a neighbor in need.

Start a military ministry

Churches located near military installations have a great opportunity to bring service members, military families, and veterans together through military ministry. Military ministries serve as a support system, a social network, and a safety net to keep service members and their loved ones from falling through the cracks.

Start a child care ministry

One of a military family’s biggest needs is quality, safe, and affordable childcare. While not doable for every organization due to financial and physical constraints, churches and employers that offer child care provide an important community service. If your childcare program is fee-based, consider offering scholarships to military families.

Get veterans back on their feet

Veterans who return from military service encounter challenges transitioning to civilian life. Many face starting over in a new career and a financial system they’re unfamiliar with. Organizations can help veterans find stability and success after military service through educational workshops covering topics like budgeting as a civilian, applying for health insurance, and college financial aid for veterans.

Help a veteran buy a home

Some churches are going the extra mile with housing help for veterans. Churches are starting grant programs for veterans, participating in home building campaigns, and providing one-on-one assistance to veteran homebuyers. Consider who is in your congregation and the skills they can contribute. Do you have experienced builders willing to donate time? What about a real estate agent who can help veterans buy a home with 0 percent down using a VA loan? Programs like these seem lofty at first glance, but they’re often more attainable than we realize.

Give veterans a purpose

For many veterans, the biggest challenges aren’t financial but spiritual. After building a career on the battlefield, many veterans struggle to find their place in the civilian world. In the absence of direction, some veterans end up traveling a dangerous path. That’s why purpose is one of the most impactful gifts you can give a veteran. Purpose may be a new career, but it can also mean volunteering for a cause, mastering a new skill, or learning how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Start somewhere

The worst thing you can do to support our nation’s military is nothing. Whether you’re one individual or the head of a congregation, just start somewhere. Once you commit to supporting the military and start connecting with service members, military spouses, and veterans in your community, you’ll discover the needs that exist and what it takes to meet them.

Thanking a veteran, hanging an American flag, taking a moment of silence to honor lives lost — small gestures like these are valuable, but they don’t go far enough to recognize the sacrifices made by so many American families. If you enjoy the freedoms granted by our great nation’s military, make sure you’re showing your support by giving back in tangible ways like these.

rhonda@getwellderly.com

Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers…Pam and I almost always begin our days with prayer, Bible study and readings from one of our favorite devotionals, “Streams in the Desert.” As we were driving to Clearwater for one of her doctor appointments, she read today’s message from our devotional. Wow! It really spoke to me, because it was right in line with what I have been consciously trying to implement more frequently in my life…living in the Victory! Here are some of the powerful words. “There are no enemies to your growth in grace, or to your Christian work, that were not included in your Savior’s Victory. Remember, The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not be afraid of them because…I will hand them over to you.’ And Joshua said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous because the Lord is with you.’  Whenever your enemies are closing in on you, Claim Victory! Whenever your heart and your flesh fail you, look up and Claim Victory! Be sure you claim your share of the triumph that Jesus won, because He didn’t win it for Himself, He won it for YOU!  Count Christ’s Victory as yours.”

Now let’s turn to the Word of God for the foundational Scripture for today’s blog. Jesus, when talking to His disciples after their last supper, shared with them the ugly truth about what they could expect in the future. He ended that presentation with this two-fisted proclamation: “In this world you will have many trials and sorrows…BUT, take heart, because I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33) So, what does “I have overcome the world” mean to us? It’s all part of the Victory plan referenced in the above devotional presentation. Since Jesus has overcome the world, so have we!

When Jesus walked out of the tomb on that blessed Sunday morning, spiritually speaking, it was a new world. The Old Covenant had just ended; the New Covenant had just begun. Jesus not only defeated death, but He fulfilled every prophecy and every promise in the Bible. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord, we inherit everything that the cross represented, and everything the resurrection represented. We are now in Christ, and with that identity comes unfathomable power, power that guarantees us victory over the dark domain.

This is our powerful inheritance when we say “yes” to God’s Gift of Grace.  We are grafted into God’s family as His Child; our sins are forgiven because Jesus shed His blood to pay OUR sin-ransom; we inherited eternal life because Jesus defeated death when He walked out of that tomb; we inherited the indwelling Holy Spirit so we can be victorious in this fallen world; we are no longer a sinner, but rather a Saint (a follower of Jesus Christ, a holy one set aside for a sacred purpose); we are heir to ALL the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realms, which includes spiritual healing and revelation, and we’re heir to ALL the promises in the Bible, which number around three thousand. That, My Friends, is “hitting the spiritual jackpot.” 2 Peter 1:3 sums it up this way: “The more we grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, His divine power gives us EVERYTHING we need for living a godly life.” Our victory springs from the truth of that Scripture.

As I have said before, God has done ALLof the work for us.  When Man(kind) proved its inability to overcome the dilemma of sin, God provided a Redeemer to save us from ourselves. Under the Old Covenant’s sacrificial system, the blood of bulls, rams, and turtledoves only covered our Sin until the next Day of Atonement. But under the New Covenant, the precious, sin-free blood of Jesus Christ provides for us the righteousness needed for forgiveness of our Sin. That was God’s plan even before He created the world. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, God now sees His New Creation (us, the transformed people) as His “holy” (sin-free, and set aside for a sacred purpose) Children. We inherit Christ’s righteousness when we accept Him as our Savior.

Now ask yourself this question: “What do I have to do to receive this incredible Gift of Grace?” The answer is simple: accept and believe that God’s love for YOU allowed Jesus to pay the penalty for YOUR Sin. “That’s it?” “That’s wonderful!” you say. And I reply, “Yes indeed, but there’s more!”  Now that you’re sin-free, you qualify for eternal life. This is spelled out very clearly in Revelation 21:27: “Nothing evil will be allowed to enter (the New Jerusalem – or heaven, to some); Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (This is a reference to those who are in Christ.)

God’s plan, as revealed in Ephesians 1:10-11, was this: “At just the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us (in Christ) in advance, and He makes everything work according to His plan. This plan was designed to give everyone on earth the opportunity to hear and accept His Gift of Grace.  Whether that happens or not depends on each person’s choice. (Remember, God’s first gift to us was free-will.) Some people will hear this message and accept it; others will reject it. That choice is ours to make, and it seals each one’s eternal destiny.

So, you may be saying to yourself, “Its great that our eternal destiny is sealed, but what about those of us who are alive right now and struggling to become the person God wants us to be in this fallen world?” Because God is LOVE, His plan for our salvation is perfect!  He didn’t forget about us; in fact, He gifted us with the indwelling Holy Spirit so we can be victorious right here, and right now. Man(kind) had from Creation until 2021 years ago (the coming of Christ) to struggle with the dilemma of Sin. Romans 5:6 is our report card on that endeavor: “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came, at just the right time, and died for us sinners.”

God knows that we, through our own best effort, are no match for the wiles of our enemy, satan! Therefore, the purpose of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to empower us to do immeasurably more than we can do through our own volition. That statement is substantiated with this truth found in John 15:5: When Jesus was talking to His disciples, He said: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing.” So, who is the Holy Spirit? The essence of Jesus Christ living in us!

As I noted five paragraphs above, “God has done all the work for us!” He made it possible for us to be cleansed of our sins, and as a result, we have been grafted into His family as His Children. This process qualifies us for eternal life. Then He gifted us with the indwelling Holy Spirit so that we can be victorious in this fallen world. That salvation package was given to us “in the blink of an eye” when we accepted His Gift of Grace. His desire for us now is that we continue growing in the likeness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:3, listed six paragraphs above, tells us how and why that happens. As Christians, we are totally equipped to live victoriously in this crazy world. Satan wants to direct our focus to our circumstances and our feelings, but the answer to whatever it is we’re facing will be found by focusing on the Truth of God’s Word! Jesus has overcome the world, and so have we! We just have to believe that, and walk in that promise. That very truth is the source of our wisdom, courage, strength, confident assurance and joy. That’s how we experience the abundant life Jesus came to give us.

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May God bless you abundantly as you begin, or if you’re continuing, this journey.

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