Pastor Walt's Messages

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EMOTIONS

EMOTIONS! Why do we have them? Where did they originate? Are they healthy and beneficial? Can the way we respond to their challenges be considered a test of our maturity or are they detrimental to our ability to function in the world? Is self-control important? Why does memory and emotions oftentimes coincide? What can/should our emotions teach us about ourselves? We cannot forget that the Soul consists of the mind, will and emotions and they should act together. However sometimes one will dominate the other, or possibly they will all be deceived together. How can we define emotion? Websters Dictionary defines it as follows: Disturbance-Excitement. The affective aspect of consciousness: feeling. A state of feeling. A psychic and physical reaction subjectively experienced as strong feeling and physiologically involving changes that prepare the body for immediate vigorous action. End definition. I think that this definition covers the subject, or man’s concept of emotio...

OUR COUNTRY

Our Country Let’s talk about the good old US of A. As the Jewish people call Israel their promised land I like to call the USA our promised land. Our ancestors all originally came here for the same reason, seeking freedom to live life free from the oppression of their countries of origin. I believe our ancestors brought some of that same thinking with them when they came here because that was all they knew and felt comfortable with. Yes it was a hard life for the first few years but I think they could have had better success if they had approached life with a different perspective. One of the primary reasons for coming to a new land was to pursue religious freedom but they seem to have quickly forgotten the Golden rule of, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” Matthew 7:12 and the second greatest commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” Matthew 22:39. Anyway the past is the past and we today cannot change what happened then, but we can insure that it doe...

Natural/Supernatural

Natural/Supernatural Worlds 4/26 What a subject for discussion and one with possibly many differing perspectives. After several weeks of careful consideration, and I admit some procrastination, I have decided to write about it. The reason it took me so long to attempt to write and give my opinion is because I didn’t feel I had a valid enough understanding. However, God gave me a revelation one morning not long ago, which opened my eyes and gave me insight I didn’t have before. Then He suggested I write what he revealed to me and share it with those of us who need a greater depth of understanding or at least a different perspective to consider. I think we need to first understand the main differences between the natural and supernatural worlds. The natural world is the one we exist and function in day to day. All of nature and how God created it to function, including mankind. We see it and experience with our five senses and sometimes sixth sense every day. We see, hea...

Unearned Unmerited Underserved

Unearned! Unmerited! Undeserved? 2/17 To begin with these three words are not in the Bible or Webster’s dictionary, even though we do understand the meaning to be the opposite of their root words; earn, merit, and deserve. They are used often in Christian speak regarding our opportunity for salvation and reconciliation with Father God through the death and resurrection of His Son and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They can also be considered synonymous with one another, especially unearned and unmerited. Not so much with undeserved. I can understand the relationship between unearned and unmerited because both refer to being performance based in their root definition, or not, in their opposite. Our opportunity for salvation and reconciliation with God is strictly based on His grace, mercy, and love brought about by His son Jesus Christ when He came bringing the New Covenant of Grace and Truth. Hebrews 8:8-13 & John 1:16-17 We did not have to earn this opportunity in any w...

FINDING FREEDOM

Finding Freedom 4-1-26 It is difficult for me to write this message because it pains me to see so much of this world in chaos. Maybe I should just call this message my opinion. We all have those and the difference is what makes us all individually unique and one of a kind. This is the way God created us. What a dull and boring world this would be if we all thought, spoke, and acted in exactly the same way, although many of our opinions do have points that are similar and have shared interests. The one thing that really bothers me about opinions is that so many of us let someone else format our opinion for us. We don’t seam to want to exercise our own God-given ability to form our own ideas and perspective regarding situations or circumstances that affect us, our families, friends and community. Is it complacency, apathy, or fear? Why do so many people find it so difficult to research and seek the truth, oftentimes choosing to ignore indisputable evidence-based truth and fal...

UTOPIA: Is it possible?

UTOPIA: Is It Possible? The Lord will speak to anyone who will acknowledge Him, ask, and then listen. He spoke to me about Utopia and prompted me to write about it. As you read the scripture from the book of Matthew 6:9-13 it will be very familiar to most but I ask you to pay special attention to verse 10. Quote, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” end quote. There have been many attempts throughout the ages to bring a form of utopia (heaven) to earth, but it never has been successful. I believe because it has always been man’s interpretation and doomed to ultimate failure because of our imperfection. Perhaps when we really think about it we have to question whether it is even possible. But then again it is in the Bible and conceivably possible. Although it would have to follow God’s definition of utopia to succeed. What exactly is the true definition of utopia? Websters dictionary gives what I think is a relatively accurate definition, a...