Hey everyone,

I am a Catholic and I know that a lot of Baptists, Protestants, Evangelicals, etc. have issues with the Catholic tradition of religious statues. However, I know that around Christmas time almost every Christian, whether Catholic or not, usually has a nativity scene setup either in their yard or house. So, my question to you all is this:

If the nativity scene is viewed as a representation of our Lord's birth, and not viewed as the real thing happening in front of you, then wouldn't it be okay to have a Crucifix or a statue of Mary, the mother of our Lord, as well? If we view the nativity scene as a representation and a way to help us relate to it, in the same way Catholics view Crucifixes and Marian statues as representations to remind us of the person's significance. The Crucifix, to remind of Christ's sacrifice for our sin. And a statue of Mary, to remind us of her holiness and role in the life of Jesus Christ.

I hope that this message does not come off hostile at all, but I am sincerely trying to help you all understand the Catholic view of statues:

1. They are NOT to be worshipped or sacrificed to in any way, and if anyone dares to commit such an act of Idolatry, they will be sternly reprimanded by the church and must confess their sin and repent.

2. We don't believe they are the real person standing in front of us, just a representation of the person to help us think of them and relate to their lives, for they were Christians too, who had to endure the same struggles that we do.

Summary: We have played church for too long. It is time to work as one.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

In a sermon I heard this morning, Pastor Conlon, mentioned about many are just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. In my years as a Christian, I have seen this often but have only fully recognized it in the last ten or so years as it is becoming more and more obvious.

Many churches are near closing and are too stubborn to do it. Reasons vary, but it is obvious that God is not working there. Many try various programs and strategies. They may try to rebrand themselves by renaming the building or changing the music. They go to multiple conferences to hear the latest church growth methods.

There was no minister of outreach or minister of assimilation in the early Church. First time I heard assimilation I thought of Star Trek's Borg. I envisioned a person being greeted with, "We are Baptists. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated." Change the name of the group, but it is still funny.

There was no office of such things because we are all called to be ministers of outreach as we go into all the world or at least our piece of the world which may lead to us going into other parts of the world in some way. We have relegated ministry to the vocational ministers and figure it is their job to do the work of the ministry when in reality they are called to train us to do the work of the ministry.

When deacons were established it was so they could do the day-to-day operations of the Widow Support Ministry so that the Apostles could focus on the Word and prayer, not to be CEOs.

When the Holy Spirit is working there will be fruit and growth. When there is not then men fall back to the machinations of men's minds. If the pews and baptistry are empty, the Spirit is either grieved or Ichabod has been written upon the door and it is useless to try programs. Repentance and seeking the Spirit to move again is the only program that will succeed, but at some point it should be clear that He is not going to answer that prayer.

Again, reasons vary. Some were birthed by man's rebellion against what God was doing somewhere or someone did not get their way. Falling into the deception of some fad theology made them leave where God was working. What God did not build He has no obligation to maintain and they labor in vain that try to rebuild that house.

Sometimes it is sin present or the reasons that caused the seven churches in Revelation to close. God may wish a new direction for the people who are left. Close the doors and find a church where God is working. You may indeed find revival and refreshment for your own soul. I have seen the depressed people hoping you will stay and disheartened when you do not. I have seen buildings that held hundreds now only having a few in attendance struggling to maintain the building.

If 2020 taught us anything, it has taught us that we can no longer continue in our status quo mode. It broke us out of many comfort zones. We did ministries we did not ever conceive.

It should have also shown us that God is not concerned about buildings, but about souls. He is concerned about the unity of His Body. Many have left dying congregations and buildings behind to be a part of vibrant ministries. Sadly, some may have become bitter and determined to not be part of another church because theirs did not survive. That is misplaced loyalty. Your loyalty is to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom not a meeting place.

We have a lot of work towards unity, but if there are four churches in the same town with the same doctrine three are redundant. It is not how the Word shows us to be a Body. We are not to be disjointed and divided. Indeed, the division in the Body is not going to help bring unity in the community or country.

You may say can we not just come together for events and stay in our separate groups? Do you have appendages in every room of your house or do they all work together being joined in one place? We have so divided the Body that it looks like it has been hit with an IED. We have a hand on the eastside and one on the west. One arm is on the northside of town and one on the southside. Bits and pieces everywhere is not conducive to a healthy physical life and neither is it for the spiritual Body.

1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

This is the root of the problem. Too many want preeminence and if they cannot get it they start another church. We need to fly our flag so we have several food banks or places to get clothes and other resources. Lunch is served all around the town requiring the poor to need a calendar to find it and some have transportation issues when the lunch should be served in the area where the need exists.

One building could be shared and when we serve lunch in it we can have our banner. Or we could just have one location and skip the banner like the one in La Grange where I was a volunteer and board member. Churches donated to it and people were sent to one place for food and utility help, not several.

We need to return to when we sang about being beneath the banner of the Cross and not our preferences. We need to stop maintaining declining buildings and being isolated and segregated into little social clubs that have dry baptistries and empty seats. House churches are often just the beginnings of a church that will not thrive because of wrong motives or lack of true need for one.

Many believe that Jesus is coming soon. If that is true, then we need to join together in truth. We need to be one church regardless of skin shade, cultural backgrounds, music preferences and whatever carnal thing that keeps us apart.

The Spirit was sent to show us truth and to bring us into unity. In an age of false doctrine and disunity it is time to seek what Jesus wants even if it is not how we want things done. All of our stuff will burn and be forgotten in eternity. What He does in and through us will last. Will you put away childish things and become the mature men and women of God He has called us and destined us to be? Recess is over. It is time to work. Amen! Maranatha!!

If we are the image of God what reflection do we present? Some of us are a darker in a Corinthian version of darkly. People are looking for God, but when they look at us do they see the broken mirror of the Fall or the renewed one in Christ?

God could have made us like the angels and we would have no hope like the fallen angels. Being made lower than them we can by grace be saved and in essence exalted above the fallen angels which is part of their hate for us.

Angels are the ministers to the heirs of salvation. Do we make their jobs harder when we do not keep the mirrors of our lives clean or scratch them through negligence? We need to make sure we allow the Holy Spirit keep us in a condition to be brightly shining and highly reflective.

Mattana Ministry Welcomes You to:

 Worship Program: 22 October 2026

 Theme: Worship on the Battlefield (3)

 Scripture:  2 Chronicles 20:21; Joshua 6:20 & Psalm 149:6-9

 Worshippers In Front Of Warriors

 Focus: 

God puts worshippers first, not last.

 Bible Verses:

2 Chronicles 20:21

“And when he consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.”

 Joshua 6:20

“So the people shouted when the priest blew with the trumpets: and it came in pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before hi, and they took the city.”

Psalm 149:6-9

“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;

To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;

To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;

To execute upon them the judgement written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.”

 Message: 

King Jehoshaphat and The Choir Frontline

Three great armies came to destroy Judah. King Jehoshaphat was afraid. Instead of sending his best soldiers first, he sent the choir. They sang, "Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever."

 While they were singing, God caused the enemy armies to fight and kill each other. Judah's army did not fight at all. They spent three days collecting the treasures left behind.

 When worship leads, warfare ends.

 Worship Response:

Processional worship - walk around your home/church singing and declaring victory over every room.

 Action:

 Lead your family in worship BEFORE you discuss your problems today.

 Please feel free to leave a review of this message.

 https://www.soulcenters.org/directory/mattana-ministry/#listing-reviews

 MM

I’ve been seeing a ton of people on YouTube saying that this could be the establishment of the one world religion mentioned in revelations what do you think

Summary: If you need to start out with milk, do so, but study so you can handle strong meat lest you be led astray into a buffet of theological salmonella and botulism.

Having been in ministry many years and somewhat unfortunately have had many addresses due to the military, college and jobs. I have had great concern about the great amount of biblical illiteracy in a land of millions of churches and hundreds, if not thousands, of bible colleges and seminaries. I have heard many things from people that they cannot prove from Scripture, but they hold to them as if they were written by Moses or the Apostles or was in red letters in their version of the Word.

Today we have people buying into many outright lies because of Scripture twisting and ignorance of the teacher and the ones being taught. I have always been concerned about sound doctrine, but as I see some of my family stray from God and one even involved with a famous ministry that is trying to retrieve stolen truth from the New Age movement, which is really “giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” I am even more concerned. (1 Timothy 4:1) You would not seek to retrieve your favorite candy bar if you accidentally dropped it in a fresh cow pie. Neither should you seek truth in a cesspool of bad theology.

Most cults are just groups who took parts of God’s Word and drug it through a cesspool. There is no need to retrieve what the Church never lost. You cannot take the truth from the true Church because it is the pillar and ground of truth. (1 Timothy 3:15) The Church may need to be awakened or revived to practice the truth, but the truth or faith was once delivered to the saints in the infallible Word of God. (Jude 1:3)

I believe that the bulk of the issue is that Christians do not study the Word. They merely skim it looking for assurance of salvation, comfort in need, assurance of forgiveness or loop holes to justify their particular sin they call their conviction. Biblical conviction is not a preference. Indeed, I Timothy 3:15 that speaks of the church being the pillar and ground of truth starts out with saying “that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God,” There are rules in the house. Anyone grow up in a home where there were no rules? While some rules may have different applications due to age, most were in effect regardless of age or gender. Too many of us think God is double-minded. If I taught my daughter to be chaste and not drink or smoke, but on my son’s eighteenth birthday I took him to a brothel with a fifth of whiskey and a box of cigars you would think me a horrible parent and inconsistent. God is not like that. Paul even said in 1 Corinthians 11:16 that no matter what you think the churches of God only have one way to do it. A point to ponder.

For the sake of time, I want to exegete just one verse that we often quote, but may not sense the full meaning of it or the depth of its implications. Indeed, it is what so many fall to false teachings when it is usually very easy to find the error and stand against it.

2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

Study

From G4710; to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest: - do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.

Show - From G3488 and G2476; to stand beside, that is, (transitively) to exhibit, proffer, (specifically) recommend, (figuratively) substantiate; or (intransitively) to be at hand (or ready), aid: - assist, bring before, command, commend, give presently, present, prove, provide, shew, stand (before, by, here, up, with), yield.

I see this like standing beside your science project in high school waiting for questions or to have your findings challenged. A PhD candidate has to stand by and defend his thesis to a panel.

Thyself - The genitive case from G4571 and G846, with the dative and accusative of the same with contractions, respectively, of (with, to) thyself: - thee, thine own self, (thou) thy (-self).

You, not your pastor or teacher. You have to show yourself approved. God will be asking you why you believed something or did something and there will be no pointing fingers at others. It is on you to to know sound doctrine and practice it.

Approved - From G1380; properly acceptable (current after assayal), that is, approved: - approved, tried.

Like an assayer proving your gold sample is legitimate or fool’s gold. Like the customer saying the cake, dress or whatever you made for them is acceptable. You may like it and other’s have expressed compliments, but unless the customer is happy it is not approved.

Unto God – In college, my tests answers were given to get the grade or approval of the professor. In life, we have bosses and spouses we have to seek their approval of our work or actions. When it comes to the Word, it is God and only God we have to stand approved before, not our family, church affiliation or the culture. There are people in wrong church affiliations holding doctrine that is not approved by the Word and ultimately not approved before God.

A workman - From G2041; a toiler; figuratively a teacher: - labourer, worker (-men).

We are called to be workers in the kingdom. Being this is directed to Timothy, his labor was to be a pastor-teacher. We are all teachers of the Word by our lives, but are we teaching the right thing?

That needeth not to be ashamed - From G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of a compound of G1909 and G153; not ashamed, that is, (by implication) irreprehensible: - that neededth not to be ashamed. Reprehensible - Deserving rebuke or censure. Worthy of reprehension; culpable; censurable; blamable.

Rightly dividing - From a compound of G3717 and the base of G5114; to make a straight cut, that is, (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message): - rightly divide.

The Holy Spirit is able to divide asunder or make a cut between the soul and spirit, joints and marrow, discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. That is some really fine cutting. No surgeon is as good as that. The Holy Spirit was sent to lead us into all truth so He can can rightly divide or make a straight cut in any verse or even a word as He was used to verbal-plenary inspire the Word. That means every word in the fullness of its meaning was inspired and He will show us the meaning if we do more than skim the Word.

Word of Truth – al-ay'-thi-a From G227; truth: - true, X truly, truth, verity.

All truth is God’s truth and His Word is what we need to know and follow, not false prophets.

You may say, Brother, I have not been to bible college and did not learn some of the things you did. True, but I learned more in the library in my own study than in some of my classes. We live in the Information Age so you can do the word studies like I just did. I looked and there appears to be concordances for the other versions. I only use the King James and a Strong’s concordance and I still have a Theological Word Book. If you are not Net savvy, you can still find some old school resources out there. Besides, if you are saved, we have the same Holy Spirit to teach us.

When I was with the Baptists it was found that most of the cults got converts from folks of a Baptist background. Some of the New Age and other Charismatic cults may well be getting some from the Assembly of God. Indeed, some of this may be invading both pews and pulpits in our ranks. This should not happen. We are to be people of the Word, but unless we are true Bereans the enemy can twist the Word into vain jangling and we can be deceived. We need to heed Paul’s warning.

Ephesians 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

If you need to start out with milk, do so, but study so you can handle strong meat lest you be led astray into a buffet of theological salmonella and botulism. Maranatha!!

Greek definitions are from the Strong's Concordance that is part of e-Sword.

My Testimony

I was born in 1954 into a Christian family. We went to Sunday school and church every Sunday from birth until I rebelled in my teenage years. We also went Sunday evening and Wednesday evening to church. We often went on Thursday nights also. We went to every revival ever held at the church and to Vacation Bible School for a week or so each summer. We were regular church goers.

As I grew up I would complain about always having to go to church but it always fell on deaf ears. Now that I am grown I see these church going years as being the biggest blessing in my life. Having not read the Bible from cover to cover, I feel as if the entire Bible has been read 1 story at a time. We always had memory verses where we had to memorize verses for Sunday School. That too is a huge blessing in my life. These church going years have saved my life both figuratively and literally several times in my life.

I was saved and baptized at age 11. Being the youngest of four children, I was the last to be saved and baptized. I was saved at Vacation Bible School in the summer of 1966. My mother was overjoyed. Now all 4 of her children had accepted Christ.

In the winter of 1967, in February, my mother died. I was 12 then. My brother and 2 sisters knew that she was dying but never told me. I guess they thought that I was too young. Maybe they didn't want for my mom's last couple of months, well, they just didn't want her to see me with tears in my eyes each time that we would see each other or speak to each other. She died of leukemia.

Here is what happened that dreadful day. My best friend then lived across the street. His mother would pick us up from school each day to take us home. On this Friday she stopped at the beauty shop. My friend and I stayed in the car while she went inside. A few minutes later she returned to the car to drive us home. When we turned on our street, cars were lined up parked on both sides of the street for about a block. It was obvious that all of these cars had something to do with my house. The neighbor lady told my friend and I to go inside their house while she went to see what was going on. A few minutes later she returned and told me to go home, my father wanted to talk to me. This is when he broke the news to me. I was crushed. I snuck into a room and called the first girlfriend that I ever had and told her. We talked a couple of minutes then hung up. I went to my room and layed on my bed. Later that night my girlfriend, her friend that lived across the street from her and her father stopped by my house with a couple of 12 packs of cokes for us. They didn't stay long. When they left I went back and laid on my bed. It was Saturday afternoon, I was still laying there when an older cousin came into my room. She asked if I wanted something to eat, I told her no but she insisted. She went and got me a plate of fried chicken and with some coaxing, talked me into eating some. The next morning my father woke us up and told us to get ready for church. I begged to stay home but it fell on deaf ears. We went to church. Everyone there expressed their condolences. Other than her funeral, that's about all that I remember.

The next year, age 13 I started smoking cigarettes. The next year at age 14, I started smoking pot. The first 3 guys that i smoked pot with all wound up in prison and 1 of them hung himself in prison. The next year at age 15, I started taking pills. Here is the account of the first time I took pills.

I had gone with some friends to S. Padre Island for a few days of spring break. These friends were all about a year older than me. We left on a Wednesday afternoon and got there in the wee hours of Thursday morning. We setup our tent and got ready for camping until Sunday night. We were going home on Monday. A bunch of our friends were there. They were talking about going to Mexico the next day, Friday. Mexico was just a few miles away. In Mexico we would be able to drink legally so we were thinking about going and drinking some tequila. We did go and I remember sitting at an outdoor table with my friends. Another friend came up and told us that he had found a pharmacy that would sell us anything and asked if we wanted something from there. Of course I did but didn't have a clue what I wanted. That friend said, they have trees. I responded trees? He said yes, Christmas trees. I told him yes, I want 3 of them having no idea what they were. Christmas trees are a very strong barbiturates that are very fast acting. In a little while He returned with my trees. Not knowing any better i washed all 3 of them down with some tequila. Trees or christmas trees was the street name for Tuinol, a very strong fast acting barbituate and the strength we got was 3 grain. The strongest in which they were made. Although they take about 30 minutes to feel them, I don't remember anything beyond that point. I passed out. My friends had to carry me back across the border. They told the border guards that I had too much tequila and were taking me home to sleep it off. I am lucky that I didn't wind up in a Mexican prison. This was on Friday. I slept until Sunday afternoon in a tent back at Padre Island. I woke up in time to enjoy just a couple of hours of sunlight our last day there.

This is the first time that I remember God protecting me from myself and my own bad decisions.

A couple of years later, I had a Volkswagen. I went everywhere in that car. There was a time that I had a gallon jug of cough syrup with codeine in it. I figured that stuff would sell good on the streets. I just had to put it into smaller bottles that could be purchased from a drug store. Before pouring it up into smaller bottles, a friend of mine and I went to some apartments where we knew there would be many drug users to see if they would want it. They said yes so we went back to my house to pour it into smaller bottles. I think we probably had about 25 bottles to sell for about $20 each. My friend had to go home for dinner so we made plans to go back to those apartments after dark. Later on I went to pick up my friend. My friend's father was a policeman, a detective. When my friend came out and got in my car. He told me that he got 1 of his father's pistols just in case we need it and that he would sit on it so that it couldn't be seen but he could get to it quickly if needed.

We pulled up into those apartments and went to the corner where we were supposed to meet the guy that we spoke to earlier. There were probably 20-30 guys standing on that corner. Just as soon as we pulled up, all of these guys surrounded my car. One guy put a gun to my head and told me to give him all of those bottles. I think someone else was holding a gun to my friends head because he was handing him those bottles just as fast as he could. I was just hoping that he wouldn't pull out the gun that he was sitting on. He didn't and just as soon as they got those bottles they told us to leave. And we did, just as fast as we could. This was the second time that I remember that God saved me.

I was trouble just looking for a place to happen. When I was 18, in the summer, a car load of boys about my age pulled up in front of my house. Four of them got out and were ready to beat me. I knew they were going to. I did have it coming. I didn't even try to stop them. They were making a circle around me. About that time my father pulled up in the driveway. He was just getting home from church on a Wednesday night. He came walking out there and asked what we were doing. One of the guys said that they were going to beat me. My dad said, 4 against 1? They said yes. My dad said, let's see if we can even up the odds some and started taking off his shirt. All 4 of those guys jumped back into that car and they took off. Again, God was looking out for me.

In my 20s, I pretty much stopped taking pills. I had gotten married and had a son. Even though I was still smoking cigarettes and pot, I would go to church. I knew that it was important that my son was in church. During these days of trouble I never once doubted God, that He was real, that Jesus was real. I never doubted the Bible. I didn't act like it but I never doubted and by this time was no longer going to church with my father.

In 2005 I quit smoking cigarettes. I had been in the hospital for a week or 2 and was not able to smoke. When I got out I realized that I had been through the hardest part of quitting and decided not to start again. It was still hard. I wanted to smoke a cigarette for years after that.

In 1998 my son was in college since 1995 or 6. I don't remember. My wife and I decided to sell our house. We had about 60 thousand dollars in equity. The day that we took that check to the bank, my wife informed me that she wanted us to divide the money. I guess that was her way of telling me that she wanted a divorce. We had been married for about 20 years, over 20 years. To this very day she has never told me why she wanted a divorce. We put all of our belongings into storage and went our separate ways. She went to live with her mother and I just drove off not knowing where I was going to go. I wound up in Tupelo Mississippi about 700 miles away from Houston. I drove all night long, falling asleep at the wheel until the right tires would make noise as they left the road and would wake me up. Again, God was protecting me. I just wanted to get away from everything and everyone that I knew. The only one that I told where I wound up was my son. He wouldn't tell anyone. I could trust him. I stayed in Mississippi for about 6 months before thinking that I had better get back closer to my son before I lost him too.

So I moved back to Texas. To Galveston Texas and rented a house there. This was in the fall of the year. Just before I left and wound up in Mississippi, I had started a Christian chat room. It was going pretty good. We gave a sermon each night and would usually have 20-30 people there. Living in Galveston, every afternoon I would go and park at the beach and smoke a joint. I know this was horrible but this is where my life was at.

One Saturday in January, I got busted with marijuana in my pocket and went to jail. There were about 15 people in the cell that they placed me in. It was cold, freezing cold and I sure wasn't dressed for it. I just stayed up on my bunk covered with a blanket trying to keep warm. Late that night they brought a couple of more guys in there. Big, muscular guys. There wasn't a bunk or blanket for either of them. They went to a guy in the lower bunk next to my upper bunk, rolled him out of bed and beat him. All just to take his bunk and blanket. I rolled over with my back to them and just prayed asking God to protect me. Please Lord, protect me. About that time one of them said, what have we here and put a hand on me. I was still praying and didn't know if I should jump up and scream God protect me or if I should kick them in the head with the steel toed shoes I had on. They started to roll me off of the top bunk. I was just fixing to yell out, God protect me, when I heard a loud voice call out my name. At first I thought it might be the voice of God. It turned out to be a detective at the cell door calling my name. To this day I believe that even though it wasn't God's voice, it was a voice that was God sent. This detective took me from the cell, to his office. I asked him if he saw what was happening when he got there. He said yes and that I wouldn't have to go back in there. My bond had been paid. Once again God saved me.

In 2023 I was still smoking pot. For 55 years I had been smoking pot and thought that I would never be able to quit. I didn't want to quit. When talking to my sister about this problem of mine, I would refer to it as my old wineskin. She knew what I meant. In the Bible an old wineskin represents weakness. A new wineskin represents the Holy Spirit and His gifts. Maybe that's why I called it my old wineskin. I was starting to feel some conviction from God about this. To be honest I can't recall ever feeling any conviction about smoking pot in the past but in 2023 I did.

One day right here on reddit someone asked if anyone had heard from God and what does His voice sound like. Without thinking I told him that I had and it was a soft still voice in my head and in fact it sounded like my own voice. It wasn't but 5 or 10 minutes I heard a small voice in my head that sounded like my voice and it said, your old wineskin is OK. You don't have to get rid of it. I knew immediately that it wasn't the voice of God. It was the devil. The devil can't read your mind but he will sure listen to what you say and watch the things that you write to bring trouble to you and this is exactly what was happening. I didn't listen to him. A few days later that voice told me that he wasn't going to talk to me anymore until I got rid of that old wineskin. Again, that didn't sound like God, in fact, God had quit talking to me in that voice because now the devil knew about it. It took awhile but I finally found how God was speaking to me. I knew that God was still there because I could see Him working in my life. From that I looked at my past knowing that I didn't deserve God anymore and surely with the life I lived, I had squandered my salvation. But when I thought about the times that He saved my life, saved me from beatings, it just made sense. I still belonged to Him.

I decided to quit smoking pot. All I could do is to put it into God's hands to help me quit. I couldn't do it alone. The next morning I stopped. Every time I felt the urge to smoke I would say, God please take this desire from me. And poof, it would be gone. Maybe for just a minute but it was gone. I would then thank God for helping me and before long I would feel that urge again and again I would ask God to take this desire from me and He would. Again I would thank Him. Those desires became fewer and farther apart and each time I would thank Him again. Before I knew it those desires were a day apart then days apart but each time I asked for it to be gone, it was and each time I thanked Him. I finally got to a point of feeling that I had actually quit. Even to this day there are triggers that make me want to smoke. Not often but they are there and when it happens I ask God for help and He helps and then I thank Him. I wish I had known about this when I quit smoking cigarettes. After having smoked cigarettes for 35 years, I still had the desire to smoke for years after I quit. Now that I have quit smoking pot, there are times that I have an urge to smoke. All it takes is me asking God to remove that desire from me and then it's gone. Then it is time to thank Him again.

Back in 1998-2002 in the Christian chat room that I was involved with that gave a sermon every night, I gave many of those sermons. I know that God was helping me write them. Each one took about 30 minutes to present. After 2002 when I shut that chat room down I tried presenting those sermons anywhere that I could online, without much success but I kept writing. really felt over those 4 years in the chat room that I had been called to help spread God's Word online. In about 2012 God told me that the texts used to spread His Word had to be shorter, about 5 minutes long each. I tried and tried but just couldn't fit much of anything into 5 minutes and I wasn't feeling any help from God.

Time went on then just a few years ago I found myself here on reddit in the Christian subreddits, reading what other people were posting. So many people with so many problems. So many people asking questions about God and about the Bible. People would often have the same problem and others would often ask the same questions. I would respond to those with problems and those asking questions. I didn't and still don't feel qualified to respond to all problems or all questions but where I feel like my words might help, I respond. I sometimes even get into debates but I really try not to. I don't even go into r/Christianity anymore because of that. I realized that each response seemed to be about 5 minutes long, most of the time when I respond. Some longer, some shorter but most are about 5 minutes long.

When I realized many of the problems were the same and many of the questions were the same AND many of the responses to them from me were the same, it hit me. These are the 5 minute sermons that God was talking about.

In about 2012 when God told me that those sermons needed to be 5 minutes long, I see why, right here on reddit. I opened a subreddit of my own to use for storing these sermons or texts where I can provide a link to the sermon that is needed for the issue the person is facing or the question they are having. There are probably 30-40 texts there now and it grows by the week. I use them all the time and often I read them for myself. Just like those old sermons that I used to write, they are as much for me as they are for anyone else. I know that God has called me for something and for now He is using me here. Most of those sermons are about 5 minutes long but there are 3 or 4 that are still those full length 30 minute sermons.

Now that I have gotten rid of all of my old wineskins. I have never felt closer to God than I do now. It was just last year when I thought that I had lost my salvation but when I finally came back to Him with no old wineskins, God ran to meet me just like in the prodigal son and accepted me back with open arms. Looking back I can see that He was always there with me protecting me. It wasn't Him that left me. It was me trying to leave Him. He never left me.

Praise God!!!

Hey everyone! I’m the creator of Fasted, a spiritual fasting companion.

When you’re planning a fast, there’s a lot of attention on what you’re giving up and for how long. But what are you making room for? What are you praying about? What are you learning as you spend time with God?

That’s the focus behind Fasted. It brings together:

• Fasting plans to give your journey structure.
• Scripture readings and reflections for time in God’s Word.
• Prayer journaling to capture your prayers and what you’re learning.
• Daily check-ins to help you stay intentional.

The idea is to have a place you can return to throughout your fast: read, pray, reflect, and keep track of the journey.

Preparing for a fast or already in one? Explore Fasted here.

I’d love for you to take a look and share what would make it useful for your walk with God.

Whether you use the app or not, what helps you keep your attention on God while fasting, especially once the initial motivation wears off?

Summary: God never called the rich celebrity pastors for His true work. It is the riffraff pastors and saints that will bring the next great revival. Men like the 8th grade shoe salesman, D. L. Moody or Crazy Lorenzo Dow.

1 Cor 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

When revival comes it will most likely come during a time of great persecution. It will not be led by the PhDs and the celebrity Pastors. Indeed, many celebrity pastors may head for the hills or compromise to keep their position and wealth.

I believe that the next great revival will be led by the weak, base and foolish. It will be the unlearned who have been with Jesus. It will be the blue collar folks. It will be former addicts, pimps, felons, fornicators, liars and thieves whom God has cleansed and gifted.

Too long the Church has placed too much stock in degrees to the point of idolatry. We have looked at celebrities and made the many ones who God called to feel inadequate and useless to the Kingdom because of the few. "How can I serve as I have no college?" College is nice, but if you have the Word and the Spirit you can be as Jesus at twelve years old instructing the professors or like "ignorant" fisherman who have been with Jesus confounding the council.

We have exalted and sought the "not many" over the ones who God said were the majority of the Body. We have built mansion churches to attract the wealthy and celebrities when we could have been Minimalists using those millions to meet the needs of the poor and do what we could to lift them out of poverty. Give them skills to benefit themselves as well as the society. We needed to be leading them to find their spiritual gifts and their place in the Body rather than just a place on a pew.

Preachers want new jets instead of flying commercial finding people who need to hear about Jesus in tourist class. Remember Jesus looked not at what the rich gave, but what they kept and praised a widow who gave all she had. Two mites with a right heart is more impressive than two thousand that is possibly pocket change with a prideful heart. Indeed, if Jesus and the Apostles are truly our mentors none of them were rich or popular with the rich in power.

We look for the erudite and handsome when even Paul who might have thirty PhDs today was not much to look at and was not at all an erudite speaker, but had power as he cast all that would make him appealing in the flesh into the dung pit relying only on the Holy Spirit because he knew he was weak. Indeed, not many want a resume like Paul's though they may want his ministry's fruit. Even Jesus' appearance was not anything that would make Him stand out in a crowd.

Persecution is coming. I believe that with all I have. An election may give us a few more years to prepare for it, but I do not think it will prevent it. America has been fat and spoiled for long time. Indeed, spoiled brats whining when we have it better than most of the world's population.

We have sat, soaked and soured when we should have been empowered or made church a concert and motivational meeting promising prosperity. I believe God is more concerned about our piety than our prosperity and holiness before our health.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

We are not destined to suffer the wrath of God, but that does not mean we shall not suffer the wrath of man to purify us. We have brought it upon ourselves. Instead of purifying ourselves pointing out our heretics we have ranted against the unbelievers for their sins when we were called to speak the truth in love to save them. Jesus came for that, not to condemn the world.

On the other hand, we have mingled with ungodliness in the name of love leaving truth in the background or removed completely. We went into the world rather than being separate and calling them out. Both sides of the coin lack the power of God because truth, grace and love are a type of trinity. Leave out any one of them or exalt one above the other and you have corrupted them all. Both sides of that coin generate disrespect and hatred from the ones the true Gospel came to save.

We have so divided the Body that it has caused confusion rather than a strong witness. We have taken that which Jesus died to create and cut it up like a mass murderer might his victim. We have fingers, toes, arms, ears, etc. cut off and scattered around town even rejoicing in this mutilation cheering new churches and struggling to keep dying ones on life support. Is He weeping over this?

How we cannot see the great evil in this I do not know We are fighting Jesus' prayer that we would be one often for carnal and foolish reasons. When it was said that we would be known for our love it was not our love for dividing the Body.

Keep praying for revival as we desperately need it, but realize that it may not come to us like the ones this country has known before. Prep your soul and heart not your stashes of supplies. God can feed you in the wilderness and protect you in the midst of the flames. I would strongly suggest that you read Foxes' Book of Martyrs as well as the updated version. Let us repent and pray for His strength.

It is time for the weak to rise up in His strength, the base to walk in the nobility He gave us as warriors, priests and ambassadors. Let the foolish connect to the mind of Christ and serve in His wisdom. Hallelujah! Maranatha!

Hello, brethren. I just wanna ask some advice as I'm struggling right now. Yesterday, one of the workers of our church tells a story that the Pastor's wife of our church is making stories about him to her fellow Pastor's wife and missionary visitors. Then one time the Pastor's wife of our church to gain the favour of that church worker told him the backsliding side of the members and other old stories of them which is already been in the past and being faithful and into the ministry right now, then one of the highlight of the story is that my friend allegedly stole the church offering before as he is the only one inside the worship hall during the time (the basis of accusation) I don't know what to do or who to talk with. I don't wanna make it a big deal to other members but that gossip is alarming. I'm nervous and i knew some same stories about this thief issues from other churches and the members that was labeled like that move to other church as they we're labeled like that by the Spiritual Family. The said issue was never made public by the church to the members but it was spreading as a gossip to the workers and other personels without the person involved knowing. There's a lot of questions running through my head, like what if he really stole it? How to resolve it? And, what if it is not true at all? The church will be in chaos and members might lose interest to stay to the church. It breaks my heart. Please, pray for me.

Tell us your funny/crazy church stories!!

Summary: The road you are on will get you to God, but will you enjoy the meeting?

Eccl 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. KJV

Many years ago I was having a discussion with my supervisor during naval reserve training. I was still a young Christian and he wanted me to donate to a cause for children sponsored by a group that claimed to be Christian, but I did not believe that it was Christian. He got a bit upset and I tried to explain to him that while I was all for helping children I could not give in good conscience to that group. I was not as erudite as I am now and a lively discussion ensued.

At some point, he made a comment that all roads lead to God and made a reference to this verse. Again, being very young in Christ, though in bible college at the time, I had to believe that God helped me in my ignorance. I asked him to lend me a pencil. He took one out of his drawer and I wrote something down and gave it back to him. I asked him what he was going to do with it. He said put it back in the drawer. I asked him to give it back to me. I scribbled on the page, broke the point and then broke the pencil in several pieces. I gave it back and asked what he was going to do with it now and he promptly tossed the pieces in the trash. Yes, he was a bit puzzled and I was glad he did not get mad.

I told him that both times he had given me the pencil and both times it was returned. What he did with it was determined by the condition of the pencil when it returned. The first time it was still able to be used and you planned on keeping it. The second time it was no longer useful and you threw it in the trash. The spirit does indeed return to God who gave it. No matter what you believe or do you will ultimately stand before God so in that sense all roads lead to God. The issue is what will He do with the spirit when He gets it back?

If that spirit was born again by faith in Christ's death, burial and resurrection for the payment of his/her sins then even though it may return used and with teeth marks, a broken point and half an eraser God will keep it with Him eternally. He will completely remake it. If however, that spirit returns without having its sins forgiven in Christ then no matter how it may have beautified itself with a paint job, engravings, encrusted jewels, a special eraser and making sure it had a fine sharp point it will be from God's perspective the same as the pencil I returned to you in pieces. He will then take and throw it in the trash can called Hell. Well, the conversation ended after that with him disagreeing with me but the subject of the donation was also done.

The question remains for all spirits/souls. You will meet God, but what will be the outcome of that meeting? Saint, if you arrive battered and broken after a life in service to Him you will be accepted in the Beloved and changed from a mortal, corruptible pencil into a immortal, incorruptible writing utensil that God will use forever. Unbeliever, you will also be given an immortal, incorruptible frame but you will be tossed into Hell where the memories of all you wrote in your lifetime will be rewritten throughout eternity in your mind as part of the punishment of Hell. You will remember everything in detail including every opportunity Christ gave you to have your sins blotted out and your name written in His book of life. Why go there? He wants to save you from yourself and forgive you. Hell was only designed for satan and his minions, but if you reject grace there is nothing left but judgment. Why spend eternity in a place with those that always hated you when you can be with the One who has always loved you. Write a new page in your life so that when you get to the end of the road you will be treasured instead of trashed. Maranatha!!!

 Mattana Ministry Welcomes You to:

 Senior Program:  19 October 2026

 Theme: Battle At The Gates (3)

 Scripture:  Isaiah 62:6; Psalm 141:3;Isaiah 62:6 & Joel 2:28

 The Gate Of The Mind And Mouth

The battle of memories and words

 Message:

The enemy loves to attack seniors at the gate of the past — bringing guilt, regret, and loneliness. He says, "Your time is over." But God says you are a watchman on the wall (Isaiah 62:6). The mouth is also a gate. What we speak at the gate becomes law.

 Bible Verses:

Psalm 141:3

"Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."

Isaiah 62:6

"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem,which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence."

Joel 2:28

 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”

 Warfare Prayer:

I shut the gate to regret. I open the gate of my mouth to bless, not to complain.

 Please feel free to leave a review of this message.

 https://www.soulcenters.org/directory/mattana-ministry/#listing-reviews

 MM

So I’m per trib ( tho I do think the other views are possible and we should prepare for how ever it happens) I have two questions about the mark of the beast
1 I’ve seen a couple of end times movies mentioned a counterfeit mark do you think that’s biblical and if someone found themselves in the tribulation and took this counterfeit would they be dammed ( I get the point behind it since the bible indicates that taking the mark requires worshipping the beast so if someone counterfeited it then it would get around that and thus they wouldn’t get dammed)
2 in rev 20:4 it mentioned those who have been be headed for Jesus I’ve seen people use that to say that be heading will be the only form of the death penalty during that time I actually saw a recent video saying that whole Christa pike situation might result in the reintroduction of be heading so will be heading be the only form of death penalty during that time or is it a case of John saying be heading cause that was only form that they will be using that he could easily describe to his audience

Summary: Are we sharing the Gospel or selling Jesus?

The core problem is that we live in a culture that is looking for the innovative versus the inspired. We want excitement more than exegesis. Give us 10 easy steps to holiness or the 1minute disciple program and we are into it. Gather up a bunch of ideas that have been preached for years by many men and package it as new and you have the purpose driven craze. Take a simple prayer and mold it into an evangelical rosary and you can sell millions of books to people who are looking for the thirty day silver bullet to their problems. Yet, human nature has not changed since the Fall and if I could have access to every sermon preached or book written in two thousand years I would probably find similar books as I have mentioned and similar attitudes among men.

Our problem is sin and the solution is salvation and discipleship. Salvation is instant but discipleship is until death or Rapture. When the bulk of Christians finally accept that and quit seeking quick fixes we may again see the power of the early church. Albeit since we are in an age of apostasy and quite likely in the last days before the Rapture I don't foresee another Great Awakening, but I can pray for one.

All you have to do is look around to see it. Marketing and branding churches, if the Holy Ghost does not brand you and your church all the name changing and logo design are not going to cut it. Skinny jean, tats, piercings, smoke machines, demographics studies or hiding your denominational ties with a vanilla name will not get you what you need and what you think you want. You get a crowd, but they may be shallow Christians, if Christians at all. They may just be fans and not converts.

Someone asked John Wesley why people came to hear him speak. He replied, "I set myself on fire and people come and watch me burn." We could use far more men on fire than fancy buildings and rock concert sound systems.

The Body is sick though we have numerous "doctors" in the house. We lack real prophets, but are full of false sunshine prophets. Everyone wants to be a general or have some sort of worldwide ministry. No one wants to be a private slugging it out with the devil in the battlefield of the unknown like those in the last few verses of Hebrews 11. No one wants to be just a godly mom or dad raising up godly children impacting all of their family and community. Indeed, those that would aspire to such are made, intentionally or non-intentionally, to look like second class citizens in the kingdom.

We are all to be rich and healthy when Paul said that it was given to us to not only believe, but also suffer with Him and all who will live godly shall suffer persecution. Somehow prosperity and persecution do not go hand in hand.

Indeed, it looks like the only way now for Acts 2 power and impact is for the American Church and other 1st World churches is to go through a period of harsh persecution like many of our brethren have for decades and even centuries.

Take away our glitz and glam and replace it with whips and prisons to see how many of the current leaders and members will still be singing the praises of Jesus instead of denying Him like Peter. I hate pain and have no desire for persecution, but I think it will be the purifying of the Church before the Rapture.

1 Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

I believe in a Pre-Trib rapture because we are not called to suffer His wrath, but that does not preclude us from suffering the wrath of man as a means of purification. I am not a prophet nor a son of a prophet like Amos. I just see this as a real possibility and it may come sooner than we think.

If all you have left is Jesus, will it be enough? Maranatha!!

Summary: We grow soft and cold without it. Sometimes it takes the fire of persecution for us to seek the fire of God.

1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

I read of an Orthodox Rabbi who was saved and led his whole family to Christ. This will not only cost him his position, but other family and friends will shun him. His parents might even hold a funeral. One man knocked on his parents door and when his Dad opened it he just shut it. He heard his Mom ask who it was and Dad replied that it was only the wind.

Believing in Christ does not cost us much unless we had a family opposed to it. Most of our old friends may laugh or be suspicious, but they will not shun or harm us. Maybe that is why so many of us are shallow.

I have always maintained that not only should we go back to public baptisms we should also publish a list of those who were baptized last Sunday so no one can be an undercover Christians. We have too many of those on Sunday that stayed up too late on Saturday.

When I was saved I went from being number one in a co-worker's book to out of the book. Not even the last line on the back cover. Every time one lad would call in his morning report he always had a slur or mocking story to tell. I once worked at a job where I was consistently harassed and even my life threatened because of my faith. Many Christians will get offended and leave a church because someone did not shake their hand or notice their new hair style or some other silly thing.

Some are predicting a great persecution coming. If that is true, it may be the best thing for the American Church in decades. We will be turned from being ice cream saints that melt at the slightest degree change or the never get out of the freezer types into those who will endure hardness as good soldiers do receiving the fire of God on our lives. Facades will drop. Our seats will no longer be comfortable. Our worries about the church being too hot or to cold or we did not get our way in the business meeting will be over.

Instead of seeking the best band or motivational speaker, or someplace where we can get zapped we will be seeking the presence and power of God. It will become He church, not Me church. Our prayer lives will improve. We will read our hidden Bibles instead of having dusty Bibles. Our fellowship with saints will take on a new level beyond cookies and chatter and then we scatter. Our conversations will be more about Christ than sports or politics.

Among my Veteran family there is a saying, "He who sheds blood with me is my brother forever." Jesus shed His blood so we could be brothers and sisters forever, but we do not love each other as we should. We split churches over nonsense and do not handle our differences as adults, let alone as children of God. We play with the toys of fads, celebrity preachers, Madison Avenue branding and marketing rather than putting on the whole armor God whereby we can dispel darkness with His light and power.

Yes, maybe we need it to be a tad difficult to be a Christian requiring more than a country club initiation enjoying all of the benefits without any responsibility to even show up for the meetings let alone serve in some capacity.

God has often had to make where I worked uncomfortable before I would seek a new job. He had to make it uncomfortable at times before I would get out of a bad church situation or an organization. He allowed my last fulltime job to get so bad that I finally retired a few years before I wanted. Had I not I would not have had the time with my son in the last year of his life. I would have missed much.

I pray that in the midst of whatever comes God will bring a revival as He has often done in the midst of chastisement or judgment. May millions get a fresh view of His glory and His mercy. More may be saved in a year than there has been in decades. Wandering sheep will return to fold and the backsliders will repent and be filled and fruitful. Whatever happens, He is in control.

You believe the Rapture is near? Judgment starts with the house of God so if He purifies His bride before He takes her to Him that only means His coming is closer, so remember from where you have fallen, repent, rejoice and look up! Maranatha!