What's Next?

  Sitting here thinking about all the wild and wacky weather across most of the U.S. has me asking the question...what's next? As of today, there has been extreme cold nd heavy snow storms through the upper mid~states and the northeastern half of the nation. Such cold that it almost defies logic! For example, the lowest temperature in North Dakodaover the last couple of days has hit an unbelievable ~55 degrees. That is unconscionable. Frost bite could occur within seconds with that kind of cold. We all know how rough the hurricane season was upon the east coast of America this fall and the massive rain falls throughout portions of Texas, Louisiana, Missippi and Colorado. The super dry weather in California, causing more wild fires and the drought~ridden mid~section states like Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. Now that December has arrived, we can probably expect much of the same in bitter cold temps.

  If you are one who gets their news online (the fake news, so called) then you may be aware of the severe five waves of energy headed directly toward the earth, which has already effected our planet in several ways as the first two waves have hit us already, it seems. The next waves occurring later on could be cause for great concern. Many earthquakes have rattled the planet now and the scientists expect much more of the same coming in rapid~succession! Anything of a magnitude 5 or above will be a major one! The New Madrid fault line which runs through eastern Missouri and western Kentucky has been a big concern for awhile by seismologists. There, of course, is also the threat of more volcanic activity, some would say, unavoidable, in Yellowstone National Park and Mexico. It is certainly well known that around the globe each of these events have covered and will be increasing as the days and month's ahead come!

I fully expect we will see much in the way of natural castraphosies and UN~natural ones, meaning things coming upon the earth that have, either, never been seen or not been before. We are headed for a time of great chaos, I believe, and because of the hardness of man's heart, that he refuses to repent of sin, these thing's will leave many in a state of shock and unbelief! It behooves all of us to examine strongly our own lives and ask God to search our hearts for anything wicked that needs to be removed. This is very serious times for America and for the world. It is now that we humble ourselves and get ready to meet our maker, as the saying goes!

If there is anyone reading this who has never trusted Jesus to forgive you and save you, TODAY IS THE DAY! Please don't put it off any longer. We don't know when our very last moment will be. This could be your last day to be alive! I say that in love, being concerned for your salvation. Not pressuring you but begging you to repent and turn to the God who loves.


Jeff pendleton
12/19/16

The best Is Yet To Come

Life gets us all `down` at times, and for some, it is quite difficult to shake it off in
a quick fashion! It just doesn't work that way for them! Sometimes it can be weeks
of attempting to fake happiness for the sake of family and friends, but inside they
are coming apart at the seams! Depression is a disease but one that can be cured!
Its not just a matter of getting the right medicine but of getting the right attitude in
this life-struggle. After all, attitude is everything!

If we want to thrive and live out the dreams and passions that God has given each of
us, then we must add to the mix the one ingredient that is an absolutely a must! Its
attitude. Not just any attitude but the `right` one which matches up to your own
personality. One that exemplifies that certain gift for each individual whom God
has molded and shaped a very `personal` plan for. The wrong attitude will contort,
shift and misshape that certain plan and vision for the one who owns it! The other
guy doesn't have your personality so he or she would respond in a different way
than you to any given situation or hardship!

Becoming the person we were born to be takes much work on a moment by moment
discipline and determination that quitting is NOT an option! If we will `line up` with
the guidance we are given through the Spirit of God and do our due-diligence as need
be, we will start to see some changes to our daily lives. Our roI have direction utine may not change
much but we as an individual will experience small, inner changes at first that will
soon manifest themselves outwardly after a while. At that time, it is `full speed ahead`
and away we go! Wooooo! That last expression was a favorite of mine which I just
throw in here and there when I get excited! Like NOW!

Becoming the best version of yourself that was created by a limitless God will happen
only when your heart and will are submissive to the guiding and direction of the Holy
Spirit! We have to be willing to let the creator have his `way` in us and not to hold
tight to our own ideals and selfish ambitions! It's just that way, people!

Guess what, though? After we make that inner decision to let God do the leading and
the prompting, we are then free to become everything he has placed along the way for
us to line-up with. Every time I have done that in my own life, which has not been
nearly enough, I have seen the hand of God move upon my own heart and pull the
curtain back so I can see the light of what he is creating in me and through me after
those moments of submission. It brings great joy and true satisfaction for me and
other's take notice pretty quickly. The opposite is also true, by the way!

I choose to believe that, by faith, my life is improving and I have direction now that
I have searched for through the decades. It has not been easy at all, but very often in
this life, the best thing's are often the hardest thing's to accomplish, but it is well-worth
it. During the hard-ships and terrible events that everyone goes through in this world
it is vital to have an attitude, a thought-process, be one that envisions success and
becoming a person who is known as a 'giver'. One who gives himself away to others
is one who has a very bright and fulfilled life! There is no questioning that because
it's a principle just as the law of gravity! A physical law is dynamic and is unchanging!
If you hold an object above your head then let go of it, what happems? It falls to the ground.
Right? So the same goes for life-principles such as thoughts. Thoughts will obey you
every time because what you think is what you become!

So as 2016 nears its end, it is my hope for all who read this that each of us will have
an attitude-checkup and change where it is needed and watch our future alter. Truly,
the best of us is yet to come!

Crunch Time Is Really Ramping Up

After the events of the presidential election and Final Trump winning the center~seat at 1600 Pennsylvania avenue coming in January and all of
the hate~speech and idiotic, demonic and criminal acts immediately following,
I think we can safely say NOW is the time for revival in this land!

Those who have for the last twenty years or more to bring down this nation
and level it's freedom~loving people to the ground, have had their plans pushed back for a time and today we clearly see the evidence of their anger and their
vitriol against Trump and the boldness he displays against them. They are showing their lack of control and frustration as the people of America courageously made their voices heard!  Now, more than ever in the history of our country, we need to be united in every area of our daily existence! In our families, in our team, in our work places and, most certainly, in our church~family!

I strongly believe that God is not yet done with the United States as far as blessing and rebuilding our land to a top world power once more and along with that, a friend of the nation of Israel, in future dealings between our two
countries. Some evangelicals believe God has given them visions of Trump being used in a very similar way that King Cyrus was used to build Israel back up into a nation of blessing and provision and helped the Jews come back home. I could easily see that being the case here as well. Let's watch very closely the deeds done within the weeks to come before the new year of 2017!

Above all, it's more important now that Christians seek God's face in repentance, fasting and praying for our new President and the direction once again to be in tune with our heavenly Father. We must choose to humble ourselves before him and allow him to have his way in America and lead us once again in the path of righteousness!

Whether one agrees or not with the election of Donald Trump is mute right now and what comes next will be vital and history~making or the lack of any godly leadership here! That's a bold statement but it is very true!

It's my prayer that I can do the same in my own life on a moment~by~moment manner and stay out of the LORD'S way.


Jeff pendleton
11/11/16

Do We Really Believe In Spiritual Warfare?

  I am perplexed, at times, how many Christians either ignore the spiritual world or just simply choose not to believe in things supernatural!  It's quite astonishing to me, actually, that for those Christians that I have conversed with on this subject, some from my own church, there are few who truly understand the reality and the seriousness of spiritual warfare. 

  The reasons for their doubts or fear on the supernatural are known only to them and God! They seem to accept the verses of the bible that speak about Jesus and salvation. His death, burial and even his resurrection but after those scriptural facts they will hit the brakes very quickly! This far but no further! Why is that, I wonder?
After all, the bible is a supernatural book and it reveals within it's holy script that we serve a real, supernatural God! How is that most Christians turn away from this very real fact which his word fully details in many passages of both old and new testament?

  If one would study God's word as he has told us to one would clearly see that the supernatural world is actually more `real`, if I can use that term, than the one we call normal! After all, truth is stranger than fiction and the bible is chalk full of evidence presented before groups of people, usually, which have caused many to repent of their sin and put there Faith in the living God, and those who have declared their faith in the coming messiah, Jesus! Beyond this there remain numerous passages which tell of talking donkeys, people raised from the dead, money found in fishes mouths, floating axe~heads and the manifestation of angelic beings appearing to those chosen for God's holy work.

  In trying to answer this myself, I believe I have come to the conclusion that the majority of people, Christians included, simply fear the unknown! They don't truly believe what they can't see, feel, touch or taste. It's actually a matter of faith and not one of physical evidence, though the before mentioned events were seen and felt by a great number of people! Today's society has been slowly programmed to believe that all they need to concern themselves with is that little square box which is the space they live in. Outside of the box, apart from themselves and their own problems and challenges, doesn't exist, in their perception of things!

  In Ephesians chapter 6, Paul the apostle tells us that we must "put on the full armour of God" in order to fight in this spiritual battle. We are instructed in the pieces of armour to wear and, by the way, there is none for the backside, if you get my meaning. He states that we must put on the "helmet of salvation", "the breastplate of rig righteousness", the "belt of truth", the "sword of the Spirit" by our side and the "shoes of the gospel of peace ( speaking of taking the gospel of Christ to the world) " and, finally, and maybe the most important piece of all...the "shield of faith" that we can stop the `fiery darts` or schemes of the devil!  Being clothed in this armour assures us that we can stand against the attacks of the enemy. Without daily putting on the armour, we are fodder for Satan!

  Demonic forces, fallen angels and ungodly entities are real folks! Once we come to terms with these facts, we will then be much closer to becoming a warrior for God, readied for the fight which comes, not day to day, but, moment by moment! The enemy never stops because he knows that he has but a short time to attempt to ruin God's plans, but he must surely realize that he has already lost the battle. At the moment of Christ's birth then his sacrificial death and wonderful resurrection from the grave, Satan was defeated for all time! End of story! Perhaps not quite the end of it but certainly the atoning death of our saviour, Jesus Christ, Satan's head was greatly `bruised` and yet he persists. 

    Until the moment of Jesus return to take his church home to heaven this war will continue to wage, so be ready and be clothed in the armour of the LORD folks, because the fight goes on every day and every moment we are awake or sleeping!
Have no fear, though, and put your trust in God Almighty to protect you and bless you in the battle.


Jeff pendleton
11/3/16

A Bulldog Attitude

Whatever you aspire to be or wherever you want to live someday,
keep within your soul a bulldog attitude.

It's crucial for success in every aspect of your life! Once a
determined bulldog gets hold of something between his very
strong teeth and jaws he does not let go!

You must do the very same in whatever place you currently
reside in your life, whether it's being an athlete, skilled in
several sports or a top salesman in a well~known supplement
company, you must be determined to obtain and keep that
bulldog persona for a success story to arise

No matter what profession you are in, even if it's one that
you seem to hate, start the day with the bulldog attitude,
strive to be the best  What you do and watch for good changes
soon come your way

This type of determination is a law just like the law of gravity,
when you hold a rock or pencil or anything else above your
head and you let go of it, what happens?, It falls to the ground 
every single time because the law of gravity is constant

So is the bulldog attitude! No matter what you do or where
you live, you have within you the makings of a great success
story and one that can be passed on to other's who anxiously
await for that certain something in their life to change for
the better and for their families best interest....it's right there.

Go get the Bulldog Attitude today


Jeff Pendleton
10/26/16

Seeing Is Not Believing

  All of us have heard the catch~phrase, "seeing is believing", right? I would like to refute that phrase under the guise of what belief really is! Belief is trusting and trusting comes from having a genuine faith. Not just a flimsy, insufficient faith in faith itself but a certainty that what or who you put your belief and trust it is authentic and trust~worthy! Therein lies faith in it's authentic identity. Faith isn't just some whimsical hope in obscure, religious dogma or p practice! It is definitive in it's scope and life~altering in it's reach! 

The bible tells us in Hebrews 11;1 that, "Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things NOT seen". So clearly God has said that believing doesn't come from physically seeing that thing or action we hoped to gain but it is, at it's very core, believing and trusting without seeing first! Let's be sure we don't put the cart before the horse in this matter of faith! Faith is vital to all who desire a pure change of heart and spiritual~salvation for their soul! Again, it isn't that we put our faith in the action of faith but in s person. That person is none other but Jesus the Christ, son of the living God! It was his work on the cross, the pouring out of his own, precious blood that `played` the cost for our sin! He did this for all humanity out of the greatest love and compassion that has ever existed!  All for you and for me.

Another verse of holy scripture tells us that, "for we walk by FAITH not by SIGHT". So it is clear enough that even a young child can understand and believe in the person of Jesus! We see the unseen. The eyes of faith reveal it to our hearts and our action of "receiving" that good news ( the gospel) is what brings salvation. It's not difficult to trust God's word and walk in it's truth`s. He gives each man, woman and child the same opportunity!

For anyone who may see this blog and you have had doubt or skepticism about the bible, I would just ask you to read it. The gospel of John, in the new testament, is a great place to begin! It reveals the identity, purpose and personhood of who the son of God truly is. If your a person who likes action films, the book of John is stock full and if you like mysteries, it has those as well. Most importantly it reveals that God sacrificed his own son for us so our sins would be paid for and we would be set free from that payment! Being a Christian (little Christs) is not an easy road to be on in this life but it is the RIGHT road! 

Finally, I would add that my moment of true faith in Jesus came during my teen years and I put my trust in him at that time, though, I did not live for him and really turn my life over to his very capable and caring hands until the age of 28 and then my belief in who he is began to grow. I could see through the eyes of faith that the bible is true and that I needed God to forgive me, cleanse me from sin and make me "New". Wow, what a great decision that was for me personally! It cost me nothing but it cost God his only son! He is worthy of our dedication and praise to live for him, not ourselves. We can show that dedication to Jesus by serving those around us, those in need. 

We are the lights in this dark world. Let's shine bright for Him every day we can!


Jeff pendleton
10/24/16

If God's People....

It's a direct command and a conditional plea from 2nd Chronicles chapter 7....God plainly lays out the plan for revival in this verse...."if MY people which are called by MY NAME will humble themselves and pray and seek MY face and TURN from their wicked ways, THEN will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and HEAL their land"! It's not complicated and its not a list of religious dogma. It is a compassionate plea from the King of heaven who just happens to love his people, those who are the saved, born~again Christians!

The opposite choice will result in the opposite of repentance! This message is clearly directed to God's own people, not to those who are not his by salvation in his son, Jesus Christ! The judgement of God begins with the church, even though this portion of the bible is from the old testament. It remains the exact same for the church of the new testament! There is no respect to certain people groups than for any other. God loves all of his creation the same and he is calling out to his children, those who have accepted the free gift of salvation by faith in the work that Jesus did for each of us! That being said, it does not mean that God loves any less those who have yet to call Jesus Lord and confessed their sin to him. His grace reaches to all and leaves none abandoned!

Without true repentance we all will likewise face the toughest of judgements! Because of the holiness of God he must stay within the truths of his word and treat any with
favoritism. You and I are in the same boat, brother. I am no better than you and, likewise, neither are you better in your relation to him than me or anyone else! It's not about us, it's all about him and the great sacrifice he gave for humanity. We aren't capable of righteousness apart from the Lord and it was our own sin that put Jesus on that cross! What is up to us is a true turning away from our selfish selves, release control of our lives to him and trust that he will do all that he says. That includes the wonderful promise that God "will never leave us or forsake us"! That in itself is the cornerstone of our salvation, the icing on the cake, if you will. Being a Christian, called by his name, is a very serious thing and eternity is in the balance of our own decision to accept him or reject him! The ball's in our court on that one!

So please let me implore you today to accept his free gift of salvation through faith in the LORD Jesus and become " born of the spirit", reborn, adopted into the family of God. To reject this eternal gift is to surrender your own soul to the fires of Hell, from which there is no end, no relief....ever! Please, please don't die lost.Let the grace of God speak to your heart today! The book of Romans tells us in chapter 10...."whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be SAVED"! It's that simple, folks.