Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

the church

Read the Bible

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At the beginning of every new year, scores of Christians resolve to read through the Bible in the upcoming year. And about right now is when a large percentage of them realize they’ve gotten so far behind in their plan they are unlikely to catch up. As Robert Burns noted, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

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I’ve successfully read through the Bible in a year several times, but I’ve failed in my attempts far more often. I think every follower of Christ should read through the Bible, but there is nothing magical about doing it in a year. In fact, it may be disadvantageous to do so. If all you are doing is checking off boxes to achieve a goal, then to read the Bible in a year is doing nothing to change your heart.

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Moral Decline

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I was hesitant to write this article. Some will undoubtedly misconstrue what I have to say and label me as a conspiracy theorist or prophet of doom. I assure you I am neither. I am speaking primarily in the context of America, the country in which I live, and specifically to the Church in America. As I survey the moral decline of the past few decades, I am stunned to observe how far we have fallen.

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The vitriol, immorality, and evil that pervade society is alarming. While it seems like this has occurred in a short time, looking back over the years reveals a steady deterioration that has culminated into the state in which we find ourselves today.

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International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted (IDOP)

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International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted (IDOP)

This past Sunday, many churches across the world took part in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted, or IDOP for short. Some American churches postponed for a week because of the election (I do not understand such reasoning, but the fact remains), and some churches across the globe are marking the day on November 15th.  This means for the first three Sundays of the month in which this post is first published, there will be focused and corporate prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters. I urge you to join in.

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If you, like me, enjoy the freedom to express your beliefs where you live, it’s difficult to understand what our fellow Christians endure daily. We cannot make too much of this issue. While we worship in freedom, millions of Christians are enduring unimaginable persecution because they are steadfast in affirming Jesus as their Lord.

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Choosing Sides

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Choosing sides is something we do from cradle to grave. Whether it’s picking teams on a playground or deciding for whom we will vote in a Presidential election, our culture is always pushing us toward choosing sides. Choosing sides reveals something about us. On the playground, it may speak of your popularity. The side you choose in an election shows your political philosophy. As disciples of Jesus, we also choose sides.

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We reject the lies of Satan and align ourselves with the truth and love of Christ. We believe Jesus is the Son of God, died on a cross, and rose to life again. His death provides the way to life for us. No matter what other sides in life we might choose, choosing Jesus is the only side that matters and is the decision that should direct the way we live each day of our lives.

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The Joy of the Lord

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Since the beginning days of the coronavirus and the drama that unfolded in the response to it, the racial tensions that began exploding soon after, and a crazed political environment, the world has seemed to have just gone mad. Every issue seems to polarize us, dividing friends, family, and most disturbingly the church. In a matter of months, what we considered the normalcy of life has been discarded. I’ve seen a lot of dramatic changes in my lifetime, but never ones that occurred so suddenly and were so divisive.

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I don’t know when or if this all ends, or what life looks like on the other side of this seemingly unending tunnel of darkness. But somehow, in the middle of all the chaos and uncertainty, I have found my joy of the Lord increasing. I am more aware of His presence than ever, and despite the anger and confusion swirling around me, I am at peace.

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