The Story of Satan – Part 3 – Satan’s Kingdom

Posted: July 12, 2026 in Biblical Wisdom
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So let’s pick this up again from where we left off from Part 2 of The Story of Satan. If you recall last time, we learned that Satan is the god of this age on earth and is the one responsible for bringing sin to the human race when Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree. In Part 3, we are going to learn more about the Kingdom of Satan. 

And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? Matthew 12:26 (Christ speaking)

Yes…you heard me correctly, Satan indeed has a Kingdom that is highly organized and functional towards a singular purpose. He is anything but a chaotic ruler; instead, he commands a systematic empire of darkness with a laser-focused aim of total destruction. He is marshaling every resource of his domain to wage war against the Almighty… and against you and me personally.

A huge point to consider is from Erwin Lutzer who tells us that, “Satan‘s most strategic victory is to give us reasons to disbelieve what God has said.” I cannot emphasize the enemy’s strategy enough. If he can get you or me to just question our belief system, exactly like he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden, then he has a foothold in your life. I encourage you to remember this.

While he is the prince of this earth, Satan has authority over the following: 

Kingdom of the Air – in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [Eph 2:2 NIV]

The “air” in this verse refers to the invisible realm above the earth where Satan and his demons move and exist and this space is the location of the earth’s atmosphere or “air.” He can move anywhere he wants in and through this earth…The entire world is his domain and he can show up whenever he wants to…please remember that.

Fallen Angels – “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [Mat 25:41 NIV]

-Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. Rev 12:7 NIV

So when Satan fell from God’s grace and out of heaven, I mentioned in Part 1 that he brought a whole slew of fallen angels go with him. The Bible says a third of all heavens angels went with him. Those angels are now his demons and are completely under his control. Without a doubt, they are a HUGE part of fulfilling his destructive purpose on earth. Please remember that too.

Unrepentant Humanity  – Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. [John 12:31 NIV]

…the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [Eph 2:2 NIV]

OK, another huge point to consider is that those who intentionally resist the Almighty God and refuse to repent are, whether they realize it or not, are part of his domain. I cannot emphasize the gravity of this enough. You are either for God…or you are under the spirit now at work in the disobedient. Again, please consider this.

The World –  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [2 Co 4:4 ESV] 

As I mentioned before, Satan has limited control over the earth at this time so let’s unpack that quickly.

Things to know about Satan inside his Kingdom:

Satan does have power: And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. Luke 4:6 NIV

I encourage you to go back to the blog citation at the end and read, “The Temptation of Jesus” for further details on the power that Satan has here on Earth.

Satan has a throne: I know where you live–where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city–where Satan lives. Rev 2:13 NIV

I cannot emphasize the enemy’s strategy enough: the most critical error is failing to respect our adversary’s capability. While Satan possesses significant authority, remember that his influence is strictly constrained by God. Think of him as the executive of a massive, systematic empire with his singular purpose being yours and my total ruin. In this age, right now, he exists almost exclusively to dismantle our lifes. 

As Erwin Lutzer brilliantly observes, “If Satan cannot keep us from heaven… at least he can keep us from being useful on earth.” I encourage you to remember that. 

Another set of important points to recognize is that Satan is NOT:

Omni-present – Present everywhere at the same time.

Omnipotent –  Having unlimited power; able to do anything

Omniscient – Knowing everything

Guys, consider the weight of this: our greatest foe cannot know or peer into your inner thoughts. Only the Almighty possesses the power to know your thoughts. Does realizing this truth about our adversary shift your perspective? I encourage you to think on that.

Moreover, because Satan is limited in his power, much of his earthly activity is delegated to his demon horde who also are limited in power. He has to use his team to tempt and defeat you as evidenced by the verses below-

-And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. Matt: 8:28 

-For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. Rev 16:14

Guys, let me leave you with this…If you think you have nothing to fear from this enemy, then he has you right where he wants you. 

One more point to consider is that even though Satan knows the word of God (scripture) better than anyone on this earth, he still refuses to recognize that God wins in the end. 

He is in denial about his own destruction.

Part 4 is next –

Until next time guys-

IMS Team

Lutzer, Erwin, W. God’s Devil. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996

Wright, Kent, “The Temptation of Jesus,” Ironman Strength, January, 2, 2024, iron-man-strength.com

The Story of Satan – Part 2 – Satan’s Role

Posted: July 5, 2026 in Biblical Wisdom
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Ok, let’s pick up this story from Part 1 where we were discussing who Satan is and where he came from. It never ceases to amaze to me when I think about what an incredible creation Lucifer was before he fall, and yet, how much his personal prideful choice caused him to lose…but we will get to that later.

If you didn’t know this already, Satan, who is also called the Serpent, was the one who caused the fall of the human race. Yes… the same guy…Now we will learn more about this in the coming episodes but it is very important to recognize that although Satan is the adversary of God, he does not appear to Adam and Eve in this manner. Rather, as Lutzer puts it, “He comes under a disguise and without revealing who he really is. He changes himself into something he is not to deceive others. He did not come to frighten, but to soothe, encourage, to instruct.”

Look at the brief story of the encounter between Adam, Eve and the Serpent below from the book of Genesis:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 

2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 

3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'” 

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 

5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.  [Gen 3:1-6 ESV] 

Lutzer tells us that, “Literally, the first time Satan opens his mouth is to put a question where God had put a period. Satan knew that if he could get Eve to focus on the one thing she did not have, it would rob her of the joy she should derive from all of the things she did have.”

Do you understand how Satan operates? He convinced Eve to question God and from that day on, lying, deception, and sin entered this world and the human race has never been the same. Can you imagine if Adam and Eve had resisted the temptation of the serpent? And what this world MIGHT have been like? That is a whole topic unto its own and one that will not be addressed by me.

What is Satan doing right now?

We know that we are the children of God and that the whole world is in control of the evil one.  1 John 5:19

Guys, we will NEVER adequately understand the New Testament unless we recognize its underlying conviction that Satan is the “god of this world” right now. Think about that for a second. Satan is the evil one and it is his power that controls this present evil age. When Adam and Eve sinned, that is when it started. 

Now, I hope this isn’t the first time you are hearing this but if it is, and you are skeptical, please read these verses I have stacked up below because the Bible is very clear about what is going on.

2 Co 4:4 – In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Gal 1:3-4 – Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Eph 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Heb 2:14 – ​​Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil…

1Pe 5:8 –  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Even though I say Satan is in charge, that does not mean that God isn’t in direct control of this ungodly world. 

The ungodly world I am speaking of are sinful people, evil, cruelty, and injustice…all the things we see around us every day. More importantly, it is critical that I stress the fact that in no way does God desire or cause all of the sufferings in this world, nor is everything that happens His perfect will.  I can tell you that God uses everything; even evil, to accomplish His purposes.

The Bible does tell us that at this present time, the world is NOT under God’s dominion, but is currently in rebellion against God’s rule and is enslaved to Satan. God, for the time being, has limited His own supreme power over this world…but I assure you, this is only temporary. That is what we see happening right now.

I know this is not the best news you have received today and I get that, but know this, because of this worldly condition I spoke about above…that is why Christ came to die for you and me.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

…and why His plan was to reconcile the world to God 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 

that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 2Co 5:17-19 ESV

So the two main points from Part 2 that I want you to understand today are: 

  1. Satan is the god of this earth right now.
  2. Satan is the one responsible for bringing sin to the human race when Adam and Eve gave into temptation. 

There is more detail coming on what Satan is also doing presently so stay tuned because Part 3 will be next – 

Until next time guys-

IMS Team

Lutzer, Erwin, W. God’s Devil. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996

The Story of Satan – Part 1- Who is he?

Posted: June 29, 2026 in Biblical Wisdom
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4 years ago, I posted a 6-part series called The Story of Satan and my intent was to provide you more detail about our common enemy, Satan, so you knew how to better resist him. I say resist because that is what you and I are called to do…not stand and fight, because we will lose. 

I also wanted to mention that since these first posts, I have read one of the most comprehensive studies on Satan that is out there written by Erwin Lutzer, called God’s Devil. I will be quoting him as we revise these 6 parts with new information. I will also place the bibliography for this book at the end of the post.

So to begin, I know I have mentioned in past blogs how important it is when preparing for war, to know your enemy. In the case of Satan, I believe that to be even more true because of how ruthless he is. I am sure some of you have heard of the famous Chinese General, Sun Tzu who wrote the book, The Art of War. In that famous book, Tzu had a quote where he said, 

“Know thy enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated.”

This makes real sense because when you know your enemy, you can predict what they might do. In this case, the simple translation is, if you ignore your enemy, they can and will overcome you, but if you study them and have knowledge of them, it certainly improves your chances at victory. 

And that is the reason I wanted to write this easy-to-read, 6-part series on The Story of Satan. My hope is that after reading, you will have a better understanding of what the Bible says about the evil one and what YOU need to do to prepare versus just what the world tells you.

The plan is to provide you with as much detail in a shorter blog format including many of the scripture references so you can review and decide for yourself what you think. This may not be obvious, but this 6-part series is just the cliff notes version of what the Bible actually says. There is a great deal more for you to explore and I highly recommend doing so if you find this even the least bit interesting. Or, better yet, read Erwin Lutzer’s book.

Why is this important to you and me?

Because the Bible tells us that while Satan is the prince of this earth, more evil men are coming and their job will be to change your mind about your belief in God…and I do not want you to do that. My goal is for you to be strong in your faith. The Bible says these evil men will preach so effectively that even the very elect…our so-called experts, will be deceived. Read this scripture below.

​​For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  Matthew 24:4

So again, my hope is you will read and learn more about our common enemy in this short series so that you can better prepare yourself for the future. So let’s get started-

We need to be reminded of Martin Luther’s words that even “the devil is God’s devil.” We have forgotton that only when we know who God is can we know who the devil is. Blessed are those who are convinced that the prince of this world has become a slave of the Prince of Peace. Lutzer, E.

Who is Satan and where did he come from?

First of all, his name, Satan: (Hebrew Meaning – Accuser/ Adversary)

Secondly, the name Lucifer means: ‘light-bringing, morning star’, from lux, luc- ‘light’ + -fer ‘bearing’

The Bible has many other names for him including, the prince of the power of the air, and god of this age but the King James Version of the Bible calls him Lucifer, which means light bearer or shining one.

Lutzer tells us that “Satan had no natural light of his own but was expected to reflect the light and the glory of God”.

To be clear, Satan was not as magnificent or as beautiful as God but evidently he was the best the Almighty could do. Lucifer was God’s masterpiece and from a human perspective and he would not be like anything you or I have ever seen. He was a blaze of God’s reflected light, very powerful and he was appointed to be minister at the throne of God which meant he was very important in the hierarchy of heaven. Apparently, as we learn, he was not satisfied.

Even before the world began, meaning before the earth was created, Satan rebelled against God and became the chief antagonist to Him and all of humanity. Read this explanation verse from Ezekial:

“Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “You [were] the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone [was] your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 “You [were] the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You [were] perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. [Eze 28:12-15 NKJV] 

I know there is great symbolism in the Bible that make these scriptures difficult to understand but the above verses describe Satan when he was created and really how amazing he was, or could have been. He was created, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty…and he was established on the holy mountain of God…and all of that went away when iniquity was found in you. Lutzer tells us however, that “Satan was defeated the moment he chose to sin.” 

What is iniquity? The dictionary calls it; ​​immoral or gross injustice or wickedness. A wicked act; sin

Satan attempted to assault God in his original rebellion when he demanded to be “like the Most High” and he failed.

Lutzer reminds us, “True, Satan wouldn’t depend on God for guidance in the decisions he made, but every one of his rebellious acts would be under God’s careful direction and control. He could defy God, to be sure, but his activities would always be limited to what God allowed”.

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ Isaiah 14:14

So we are crystal clear, BECAUSE Lucifer rebelled against God…he was cast down out of heaven.

Here is a verse from Isaiah that describes the fall of Satan from heaven:

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [How] you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! [Isa 14:12 NKJV]

Important facts to understand:

In his rebellion against God, Satan drew with him a multitude of lesser angels, who are identified, after their fall, with both demons or evil spirits. Satan and many of these lesser beings were exiled to earth and the atmosphere around it, and operate within this sphere (Earth) under the permissive will of God.

To be more specific, Satan’s initial rebellion as I mentioned above, took with him literally a third of heaven’s angels as evidenced by the scripture below;

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.  [Rev 12:4 NKJV]

Again, more symbolism in the book of Revelation but this indicates that the stars are the angels that were banished to earth. Additionally, a part of this rebelling brood of angels are still bound in Hell while the rest of them are free to operate and exist under Satan’s dominion and control (more to come on this later).

OK, lets stop here but stay tuned the revised Part 2 is coming soon-

Read, Think, Pray – That is all I am asking-

Until next time guys-

IMS Team

Lutzer, Erwin, W. God’s Devil. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996

Fathers Day is here again…

Posted: June 21, 2026 in Fatherhood
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A much shorter post today.

As I approach this Father’s Day today as the first one since I lost my dad this past February, I find myself thinking about him a great deal. It has always been interesting to me the difference between being told by friends who lost a parent and their experiences, versus actually going through the ordeal myself. To be blunt, it sucks and I do not like it…and other than just time passing to help make this process any less crappy, there really isn’t relief from grief. 

For me, I really miss just not being able to talk with him when I want to or as we learn as we get older, when we NEED to. Dads are good at filling that kind of role and for me personally, because my dad could just listen and not comment and I miss that. Now I assure you he did comment a great deal when I was younger but as we both grew older, he just liked to listen, talking less. By the way, that is him in the picture above…living his best life.

Guys, there is something about just hanging out with your dad that really can’t be replaced with anything else. Friends and spouses are there and definitely do help, but dads are just unique and comfortable because they know YOU and they still love you.

I never want to feel sorry for myself and forgive me if this post sounds that way because that is not my intention. But plain and simple…losing any parent is always difficult but for me right now, I am just missing my dad on Father’s Day.

So guys, if this resonates with you because maybe like me, you have lost your parent this year please know that my heart goes out to you and your family on this Sunday. Or if your father is still around, do me a favor and shake his hand or give him a hug from the rest of us. Because as I found this year, sometimes they can leave unexpectedly and their loss is a tough pill to swallow. 

So, a toast to all of you on Fathers Day, I lift up my glass to you and your fathers. Do your best to enjoy them today and appreciate them while you have them.

Happy Father’s Day to each of you.

Until next time Guys,

IMS team

The Christian Elevator Pitch

Posted: June 7, 2026 in Biblical Wisdom
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Have you ever heard of an elevator speech before? If you have ever been in a sales role then I am sure you are familiar but essentially an elevator speech is if you happen to be in an elevator with a CEO that you recognize as famous and of course they don’t know you. The idea is that you invoke the “20 seconds of extreme courage” model and strike up a conversation with them, introduce yourself and then give them 30 seconds about who you are and why you are the the best choice.

What this does is it causes you to really focus on the most important facts about your pitch and what makes the most impact in the shortest amount of time. You remove all the fluff and unimportant details and just convey solid, efficient, information that is succinct and directly to the point. 30 seconds…that is all you have. 

If you have never done this I assure you it REALLY makes you think but that is really not the reason for this post today…well sort of.

This elevator pitch idea got me thinking about what if I applied that same concept above to being a regular Christian guy in this world and you found yourself on an elevator. What would you say to the person? Could you explain God or Christ and what He did for you in 30 seconds? 

For that matter, could you explain that topic in 30 minutes? I think the easy answer is some of us can and others have never even considered this question before. Guess you know why I am writing about this today. 

Here is my point; every single person…man or woman, who claims to be a Christian must have an explanation for why you believe or have faith. Why is that necessary? Why do I need to know how to explain why I believe? My easy answer is, what kind of faith do you have if you don’t know why you believe? I mean, realistically if you don’t know, or have a relationship with Christ, then what is the point?

Peter says it this way, But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter: 3:15

Guys, faith is a spiritual muscle that God requires you and me to exercise constantly. How does He do that? By providing us daily challenges to overcome and obstacles and barriers to get over or around.  Adversity can and will build faith OR…it can cause our faith to weaken if we choose to give up. As I have said many times on this blog, strong faith is up to you…you get to choose if you want to live for Him.

These good and bad experiences along our journey become a part of your walk with God and certainly a part of your elevator speech; And on that journey, God walks right along side of you and me. He is not our crutch but our companion. He seeks nothing but good for you because He cared enough to send His son to die to pay the price for sin that you nor I could pay. 

And frankly, conveying that sacrifice alone to someone should be your 30 seconds…just saying.

Guys, I have never given my readers any homework before so today will be the first time but I want you to take just 5 minutes on your morning drive into work and think about my question. If someone asked you today why do you believe in the faith you profess? What would your answer be? 

I encourage you to take the time to consider your own personal answer…because it will ultimately determine your eternal future.

Until next time Guys,

IMS Team

How do I know Christ lives in me?

Posted: May 25, 2026 in Kingdom Living
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A friend of mine recently posed a question to me that I found very interesting. He asked me “how do you know if you are truly saved? How do you know if you are REALLY a Christian? This guy was genuinely struggling with whether or not he had actually been saved, or was this completely in his head.

For those of you not familiar when I refer to “saved”. This is what happens when we accept Christ into our hearts and He comes to inhabit or live in us. Being saved means we gain eternal life with Him.

But, back to the question at hand; Is it possible to be saved only in your head, and not in your heart?

The easy answer is no, you cant be saved just in your head and how do I know this? Because a truly saved person is changed from the inside out. They are renewed inside, they are different because of that renewal.

J. A. Motyer said it this way, “No one can walk with God without giving himself to a determined pursuit of good.” 

If you just think you are saved and yet you are still on the same path as before, then I would question the validity of your experience. I am not trying to be harsh, but at the same time, God does not inhabit a heart that doesn’t want Him to be there. 

A better way to say this is you can’t profess Christianity and still have a solid foothold in this world. The two do not, can not, and will not EVER coexist. God wants all of you or none of you and He will not share…especially with the enemy.

When your heart has been changed by Him, you will have a desire to pursue good things…and there will be a battle inside of you when you come into conflict with your old way of thinking. That conflict is God inside you reminding you that you are not the same person anymore.

I can also tell you this on solid authority; when you give your life to God, and He comes to live in your heart; because of that personal choice you made, the enemy will triple and quadruple the attacks on you to ensure your experience does not last. When you have lived your life away from God, and then in humility, give your life over to Him…that is when things can get interesting.

Again, this is not a scare tactic, I simply want to present you with the truth. It is critical you are aware that the enemy will not give you up easily. Be prepared for the battle that is coming. But recognize the more you lean into God, there will be challenges in your life. But please…read this scripture today guys:

…Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

We were not promised an easy life by signing on with Christ. What He did promise was on life’s journey, that He will never lead us or forget about us. David said it this way in Psalm 23, “…Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I am not afraid, because you are right there with me.”

Guys, our God inhabits those of us who truly seek Him and that is the foundation of your salvation. Those of us who pursue the narrow path and are intentional about doing good in this life; I applaud you for your fortitude and I believe in my heart there are a bunch of you out there, just everyday, doing your version of life and serving Him.

Until next time Guys,

IMS Team

Motyer, J. A., The Message of Amos, Intervarsity Press, 1974

Don’t be a Grumbler

Posted: May 11, 2026 in Standing firm in Trials
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We have all heard the word Grumble before and maybe you even have first-hand experience working or living with a grumbler.

Websters defines Grumbling as: 

To complain or protest about something in a bad-tempered but typically muted way.

For us men; Grumbling is specifically mentioned in the Bible as something Christians need to work hard to avoid. Grumbling is dangerous because it creates unrest. Grumblers are what a former boss I worked for called, “people who punch holes in the boat”. So whether this is a work application, or just a life application, grumbling ruins everything over time. 

In my own past, being fully transparent, I have done a whole lot of grumbling, how about you? What does that say about me? Probably that I write this particular blog because I need to read and apply this one personally more than most of you…because when it comes to grumbling, I have failed before.

I think it is obvious that when the Bible mentions a topic more than once, we should pay attention; and Grumbling is mentioned numerous times. Now, are you surprised that the Bible even talks about grumbling? 

Why would grumbling matter to God? Easy…because as I said in the beginning, grumbling is a dealbreaker or as my wife tells me, “I don’t really want to be around you when you grumble” 

Honestly, I don’t want to be around myself when I do that either…it is miserable.

When I started looking into this topic, I remembered reading about Moses as someone who had to deal with grumblers as he guided the Children of Israel across the desert. During those 40 years, he was constantly battling the grumblers who actually were not grumbling against Moses, they were grumbling against God…Which is really the point of this blog today.

MY grumbling, the Children of Israel’s grumbling, anybody’s grumbling, is truly AGAINST our God. AND, with a HUGE emphasis on this point…it ALSO makes everyone around you unhappy… 

Read what James says about this topic:

Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Or, Paul tells us that very fact in 1 Corin. 10:10 below:

And don’t grumble as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction on whom the ends of the ages have come.

Destroyer? Wait, what? No one mentioned anything about a Destroyer. But actually, that’s not true because, as we just read, Paul informed us HOW big of a deal grumbling is to God…

Grumbling undermines everything that is good. Grumbling basically means, “I don’t trust this plan, or this person, and I need to make sure that everyone around me knows”. “And, I really don’t think that God is capable of saving me or my family”. 

Guys, can you imagine what grumbling does to your children? I can tell you, it fundamentally provides them an example of how to walk away from God and not trust or believe that He will work things out.

Yep…Grumbling does all that and MORE.

Guys, today I urge all of you, myself included, to refocus on Christ and His salvation and start by just being thankful…THEN…Be intentional and work to push being a grumbler aside by focusing on your family and then finally, being thankful for what you have.

Yes, the pattern for removing grumbling is just being thankful. You can’t grumble when you’re thankful…it is a scientific impossibility. OK…honestly, not sure about the science part but I do speak the truth. When you truly focus on the things in your life that you are thankful for (and, trust me you do have something) you won’t feel the need to grumble anymore.

Guys, if you are like me, the world around us sucks and it continues to suck. But for me, even writing this, helps me remember that I have a tremendous amount to be thankful for and even though the future seems scary and I am unsure, we have a God who cares and asks us constantly to reach out to HIM for help.

Guys, I urge you today to take the first step…be thankful for ALL you have and no more grumbling-

Until next time guys-

Postscript: If you are specifically interested in the Destroyer reference I made earlier, here are some scriptures for you to review:

Exodus 12:23

Hebrews 11:28 

2 Kings 19:32-35

God does not do Vanilla

Posted: May 3, 2026 in Strength for Today
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I am not sure where all of you fall in with the longstanding Creation debate. Whether you prefer the “Big Bang” theory, which says that the universe began with a single massive explosion that set all life and everything we know today in motion. 

Or whether you fall on the side that looks at Creation and says that everything we see was designed by a higher purpose or a higher being. Because, simply put, there is too much complex evidence that identifies the incredible perfection and minute detail this entire universe actively runs on each day which, that fact alone leads many to the ideal that there is an Intelligent Designer.

I had the recent pleasure of seeing a new movie that was just released called, The Story of Everything. In this movie, Dr. Stephen Meyer, PHD. carefully reviews all the various arguments against Creationism and then systematically, through recent advanced scientific discoveries at the molecular level, refutes each one. It is fascinating.

But today I wanted to zero in on something I learned from this movie that absolutely fascinated me and I thought you might be too. The commentator was speaking about Creation and all of its beauty and how at every level; From the furthest galaxy down to the very molecular level…every single individual thing; Planet to a single cell…everything was created with exceptional detail and beauty.

As we move forward, keep in mind the words of Paul when he said in Romans 1:20,

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 

Let me try and break this down even further by using the example of a hummingbird. We have all seen hummingbirds before fluttering around with their high intensity wings flapping at incredible velocity that allows them to hover. These little birds are at max, maybe 3 inches tall? But yet when you look at them, you don’t just see a little bird, you see alluring beauty with absolute perfection and grace. 

My point is this: Hummingbirds don’t need to be beautiful. Their beauty is not necessary for their existence. Rather it is an added bonus from the Creator for those who get to witness one of them in person. 

God did not need to create Creation as beautiful as He did. Think about this; If all of Creation was just average, and you and I grew up around just average, would we have known any different? Absolutely not. Average would be normal to us. But our God does NOT do Vanilla…He only created majestic creatures with exceptional detail so that you and I can be surrounded by it.

My final point is what does His Creation say about Him?

God is a perfectionist. As mentioned, average or vanilla, will not work for Him. If it did, then He could’ve called in sick during Creation and took 2 weeks instead of 6 days…but He didn’t. He worked and created absolute perfection down to the most minute detail. 

God did not have to create Creation in this way, with absolute perfection, but He did because that is who He is.

Secondly, it also tells me that part of the reason He did this was for pure enjoyment on His part. God liked what He created. Remember what He said back in Genesis 1:31a? “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good…” God enjoys what He made and you and I get to live surrounded by pure unsurpassed beauty every day.

Guys, I encourage you to try and see this movie if possible. I know it is a limited release and isn’t showing in all cities but it will pump up your faith like it did mine. I have placed the trailer at the end for you to review.

Until next time Guys-

The Story of Everything | Official Trailer

Flawless

Posted: April 17, 2026 in Strength for Today
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Have you ever been inspired by something before? Maybe it was a great speech your heard or a seminar you attended. It could have even been a song that really hit you in your core. Whatever it happened to be, it got you thinking that something in your life might change for the better. Because let’s face it, all of us need hope am I right?

A few years back, I found myself unexpectedly inspired by a song that I wanted to reshare with you because I think the words in this song will resonate as we navigate this life. You see if you are anything like me, you may find yourself constantly going back and forth; trying to be a good person and then when it matters, falling flat on my face. 

Inevitably, we try and claw our way back into God’s good graces, and yet we feel like we are on the edge of a cliff and we can’t get back. Or we have gone too far and we’re going to fall over. And that is why I want you to hear the words from this song.

Because…No matter what path you have been on or may still be on…

Because…No matter what has happened in your past that you are ashamed of…

Because…No matter if you have ever experienced failure, or disappointment, or unhappiness, or you just can’t overcome something that is keeping you down…

Just in case you may have forgotten this important detail along the way.

God has an amazing grace just for you, and, because of what Christ did…

THE CROSS HAS MADE YOU FLAWLESS…

This is an important to consider; when God looks at us, what He sees isn’t pretty because we live in a world reeking of sin and frankly, I can’t imagine what that looks like from His perspective.

But, because of what Christ did on that cross, God looks at you and me through the filter of Jesus and instead of seeing sin, He sees someone who is pure and blameless before Him.

AND, I don’t care what you have done…that is between you and God but I do know that because of His grace towards all of us…and His righteousness wrapped around us…

You, YES YOU, and Me are Flawless…

Guys, this is a simple message but I also know it is easy to lose your way and forget even the simple things God has given to us. I believe there is no such thing as hopelessness for someone who recognizes what has been done for him by Jesus Christ on the cross…why? 

Because being right with God and being flawless before Him; there is truly no greater place that anyone can be…and that my friend is the greatest hope any of us will ever experience.

I want you to be encouraged –

Until next time guys…

Enjoy, Flawless, by MercyMe

Is God Safe?…Some More Clarification

Posted: April 14, 2026 in God Perspective
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A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog called “Is God safe“ and the response to that has been one filled with questions and concern about what I said. So before you read this one, you may want to go back and read my previous to familiarize yourself and so that my response makes sense to you.

In that blog, I wrote that God is not safe to those who do not recognize his holiness, as well as that he is God. Now it is possible that statement may seem contradictory to what we hear most of the time which is mostly about how God is all about love…which He is, but it cannot be understated enough that although our God is love and He sent His son to die for all of us. At the very same time, in the very same being, SIN can and will excite the wrath of God into something none of us want. And that maybe where the confusion lies.

Let me try an unpack that for you with a question; What comes into your mind when you think about God? Is He this companion that you talk to when you are alone? Or is He the one you call on when you are in trouble? Or do you just never even think about God at all? In any sense, AW Tozer said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

Why? 

Because your personal worship, personal acknowledgement, and personal humility, or lack thereof, is either pure or not pure soley based on whether you think highly or lowly about Him.

Again, why does this matter?

Plain and simple, I think that many people who profess to be Christians have lost this basic understanding that although Christ is near us and longs for you and I to be saved and to spend our eternal life with Him, He still will not tolerate a Christianity that is not holy towards Him. God is not our buddy. And when we adjust God down to our size and try and make Him easier or more tolerant towards what we are doing, that is when our God is NOT safe.

As I told you previously, sin excites the wrath of God…and I am not referring to a good kind of excitement…I am referring to holy anger. When you and I tweek God to fit our lifestyle, we are essentially justifying that God will tolerate you while us intentionally sin. I can tell you He will not and when we do that, God is not safe.

I am not trying to scare anyone, I am simply telling you the truth. So my question is what can we do about it? 

Here is my recommendation: Begin with humility towards God, then repentance towards God, so that you can get back to that right relationship with Him. That is when He will provide you with grace.

But all of this starts with our choices. Guys, please do not allow the enemy to tell you that God won’t mind if you live with your girlfriend or maybe justify to yourself that spending one night with a woman you met on that business trip is not a big deal.

I encourage you to take a stand and say NO. When you do that, I assure you, you will keep your heart right with Him and His grace will continue to flow.

So the bottom line answer to my question, Is God Safe?; Well…to the humble man, the answer is an easy yes. 

However, to the guy who still wants to do his own thing, his own way, the verses below explain Gods feeling on this subject:

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.    Hebrews 10: 26-31

Until next time Guys-

Tozer, AW, The Knowledge of the Holy, Harper Collins Publishers, 1961

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