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 a community of authentic Christ followers.

Spiritual Warfare

What comes to mind when someone mentions "spiritual warfare"? Do you think of scheming charlatans who make a living "casting out demons"?  Do you think of little devils running around in Halloween-type costumes, making small mischief in people's lives? Do you dismiss it as hocus-pocus nonsense?

None of these concepts are biblical.

Many of us simply don't understand.

And yet, spiritual warfare is an important reality taught in the Bible. See Ephesians 6:10-18. 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

In this passage, Paul warns us to "take your stand against the devil's schemes." Peter also cautions us, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8. James encourages us, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7

How can we resist the devil if we don't know who he is? How can we be "alert" and avoid being devoured if we don't know how to take our stand against the devil's schemes, because we don't know what they are!

I want to encourage you to put away ignorance and fear on the subject and dig into God's Word. Learn the truth about your enemy and his schemes. Then, and only then, will you be ready, able to resist him, and qualified to take your stand against him.

"Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." 2 Cor. 11:14

Receive Christ

(An excerpt from Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog today) 

Have you given your life wholly and completely to Jesus Christ? Have you asked Him to forgive you of all your sins, to give you eternal life, and to fill you with His joy, His peace, and His wisdom and strength through the power of His Holy Spirit? If not, let this be the day you receive Christ into your heart by faith. 

This is a great concise explanation of the Gospel! Click here.


Please read it. Please pray the suggested prayer at the end with a sincere, humble and repentant heart. And please post a comment below or go to our website and contact us to tell us that you’ve become a follower of Christ. Let us rejoice with you and encourage you and give  you suggestions on how to grow in your new faith, and how to share your faith with others. You could start by sharing this message with others.

Freedom in Christ

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." Galatians 5:1

Freedom in Christ does not mean the right to do as we please. Freedom in Christ means the ability to choose to do the right thing---faith expressing itself through love.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Best thing about Christmas after remembering Happy Birthday Jesus, is time with loved ones.

Holiday Blues and the Prince of Peace

The holiday season can be a joyful and festive time of the year for some people, filled with parties, celebrations, and gatherings with family and friends. However, for others, it can be a very difficult time, filled with sadness, disappointment, loneliness, and anxiety about the future. It can be especially hard for those in unresolved broken relationships or those with unmet expectations. They get a bit of the holiday blues or experience more severe forms of depression.

The Scriptures tells us Jesus is the "Prince of Peace." (Isa 9:6) And God's peace "surpasses understanding and will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:7

How can we experience this peace during the Holiday Blues? Here are a few recommendations:

1. Pray ("Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray..." James 5:13)

2. Confide in others so they can pray for you ("Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16)

3. Sing (Music can lift our spirit, see 1 Sam. 16:14-23)

4. Praise God (God inhabits the praises of His people. Ps. 22:3)

5. Consider your trial pure joy (Yikes! This one is so much easier to say that to do. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4. This doesn't mean you must feel joy, but you must think of the trial with joy because you know God is maturing you.)

6. Be thankful ("Give thanks in all circumstances." 1 Thess. 5:18)


Don't rely on your feelings. Rely on God's promises. Trust and obey. He is trustworthy.

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Eph 1:2

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I loved my recent trip to Iowa to get sworn into the practice of law. I loved seeing my sister and her family. I loved cozying up by the fire with my husband for a rare moment of rest. I loved finishing Joel Rosenberg's new book The Tehran Initiative. I loved the snow. I even loved the cold.

As Christmas approaches, I am reminded once again of the Reason of the Season---God became flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ. He was born to die. For us. For me. Not because I deserve it. Not because I am worthy. I don't deserve it and I'm not worthy. And yet, Jesus died for me so I could be saved from the penalty I deserve for my sins, that is, death.

Thank you, Jesus, for revealing the Father to us, and for giving us the Spirit to guide us and empower us to do what we could not do on our own. Apart from you we can do nothing. John 15:5 Through you all things are possible. Phil. 4:13