Tag: perseverance

Pointless Baggage

Dale Pollard

On Paul’s third missionary journey he would write to a congregation in Rome. Today this letter is viewed as sone of the most theologically deep books in our New Testament. Some think that there are portions of Scripture that are best left alone, or that only a preacher or Bible teacher can decipher the “code.” When we do some digging into the original audience that Paul was writing to, we see something interesting. He was delivering these deep theological concepts to a church that seemed to be largely lacking in spiritual knowledge. In fact, some of the members of this 1st-century church believed that God was glorified through their sins! Clearly they had some growing to do. Paul didn’t say they needed to stick with simple Christian concepts or the basics; he still tries to teach them the difficult and more complicated aspects of Christianity.

This is a call for us to challenge ourselves in our daily studies. The Bible was meant to be understood, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t take some effort on our part. The book of Romans is a rewarding book to study. In fact, it’s difficult to find another book that can give the Christian more joy and confidence in their salvation. In Romans 8:1, Paul writes, “There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” At first glance this may just be a verse that many skim past because of how familiar we are with it. When we study the application of such a simple verse, in context, the benefits are incredible.

There’s no need to agonize over our relationship with Christ, if we’re in Christ. Paul simplifies our salvation by telling us that if we have obeyed the gospel and we’re striving to follow Jesus, we don’t have to live in fear of our standing before God. In fact, this phrase, “in Christ,” appears 172 times in the New Testament, but it’s a phrase that is largely misunderstood. Some Christians believe that through the course of their week they bounce from “saved” to “lost” on a daily basis. The idea of being “in” Christ is really describing a spiritual union— much like marriage! You don’t wake up everyday and ask your spouse,  “Are we still married?” and then worry throughout the day that despite your spouse’s confirmation, you’re just not convinced that you’re really married to them. If we haven’t done anything to separate that union with Christ, we can live confidently knowing we are saved.

What a wonderful feeling. The book of Romans is one that helps us to let of any pointless baggage and live a life of peace and joy. 

Can I Lose My Salvation

Carl Pollard

That is one of the most important questions a Christian can ask. In this day and age, many believe that once a person is saved, salvation can never be lost. No matter what happens afterward, their eternal destiny is secure.

That sounds comforting. But is it what the Bible teaches?

Scripture definitely teaches that Christians can have confidence in their salvation. John wrote, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). We don’t have to live every day terrified that one mistake has erased our salvation.

But confidence isn’t the same as impossibility. The New Testament repeatedly warns Christians about the danger of turning away.

Paul told the Corinthians, “Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). You can’t fall from a position you were never in.

In Galatians 5:4, Paul says it even more plainly, “You are severed from Christ…you have fallen away from grace.” Whatever else we say about that verse, Paul clearly believed it was possible for someone connected to Christ and His grace to abandon that relationship.

Peter gives a warning when he describes people who had “escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” but then became entangled in sin again (2 Peter 2:20–22). Their problem wasn’t that they had never escaped. They went back!

Like a branch connected to a vine, Jesus said, “Abide in me” (John 15:4). Then He warned that if anyone doesn’t abide in Him, “he is thrown away like a branch and withers” (John 15:6). The warning only makes sense if leaving is possible.

Does that mean we should constantly wonder, “Did I sin too much today? Did God stop loving me?” Absolutely not.

Our salvation isn’t so fragile that every stumble destroys our relationship with God. Christians still sin, and “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us” (1 John 1:9). Peter denied Jesus three times, yet Jesus restored him.

There’s a huge difference between stumbling while following Christ and deciding to stop following Christ.

God isn’t looking for an excuse to keep you out of eternity. He wants you saved. He gave His Son to make salvation possible. But He also refuses to remove our freedom to walk away.

So, can I lose my salvation? Biblically, yes.

But maybe the better question is, am I abiding in Christ? Stay close to Him. Keep walking in the light. When you fall, get back up.

The same Savior who warns us not to leave is the Savior who promises, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

Tired Shoulders

Dale Pollard

It’s common in the age we live in to get stuck on the “daily grind.” We wake up, drink coffee, get dressed, go to work or school, come home at the end of the day, and start all over again in the morning. It’s repetitive and the days can seem to blend together. On top of this monotony, you have your own problems to solve. We’ve got our own responsibilities to keep up with. For some it’s family and for others it’s homework or any number of other duties. This can cause anxiety or depression. Those thoughts that are familiar to so many can creep into our minds. Thoughts like, “why am I even doing this? What’s the point?” Our shoulders are tired with the burden of life. There’s too much going on and we may just want to shut down or sleep to escape the day. The weight is heavy.

So try something. Wake up! When our minds are full of our problems and our responsibilities and everything that’s wrong with our lives and our circumstance, we miss something precious. We miss out on the lives of everybody else that also share this planet. Solve your problems and shake the daily grind by branching out. Strive to achieve selflessness by loving others and showing compassion. Solve your problems by trying to help others with theirs. If I personally have my own problems as a young adult, I know that there are others with problems much bigger than mine. Their shoulders are killing them and they’ve been carrying the weight longer than me.

There are people all around you struggling with the same things or worse. The next time you Tweet, begin to create a Facebook status, or blog, are you about to be another problem for someone else? Or are you about to ease their aching shoulders?

God’s Instructions For Being Patient

Neal Pollard

Lately, I’ve put together toys and furniture that came with “instructions,” only they are a series of steps with pictures and illustrations and no words! As a lefty in a right-handed world, I find that doubly difficult. But, ultimately, even these instructions prove helpful enough to finish the job.

The Bible is a divine instruction manual, designed not only to reveal God’s sovereign, immutable will, but to give us guidance in how to improve our lives in this world. What Jesus calls the “abundant” life (John 10:10) is not primarily aimed at the financial, material, or even physical, but it applies to every sphere in which we operate. That includes disciplines and characteristics of our lives, like patience.

Most of us, if asked, would confess of the need to be more patient. So much tries our patience–traffic, deadlines, children, spouses, peers, expectations, failures (ours and others), sin (ours and others), unfairness, ineptitude, etc., etc. Impatience is not portrayed in a positive light in Scripture (see Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Saul, Esau, the Israelites when Moses was up on Sinai, Martha, the Prodigal Son, and others, some righteous and some evil, whose impatience cost them in some way).

Patience is commanded in the first part of James 5:7. It is said as a response to those whose patience was being inflamed by the sinful actions of those discussed in the previous six verses. In just a few words, James has some pretty exhaustive instruction on being patient.

He Addresses The WHO: “Be patient brethren.” There’s an ethic and morality expected of those in God’s family that exceeds that for everyone else. Almost every use of “brethren” in the New Testament is obviously addressed to Christians, and several times with the word “brethren.” As light-shiners and salt-spreaders, we must exhibit patience with each other and especially other Christians.

He Addresses The WHEN: This command has a duration (an expiration date): “Until the coming of the Lord.” How long are we to remember Christ in the Lord’s Supper? “Until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). How long was Thyatira to hold onto what they had? Until Jesus would come (Revelation 2:25). How long was Corinth to refrain from unrighteously judging one another? “Until the Lord comes” (1 Corinthians 4:5). You don’t encounter the phrase very often, but every time it regards a matter of significance. There will not come a point in time when you can cease being patient. It’s as long as you live or until Christ comes again, which ever comes first.

He Addresses The HOW: You’ve got to strengthen your heart. This speaks of being inwardly firm, committed, and stronger. James is saying, “Steel yourself because this will be hard sometimes.” When I think of people who have fallen away from the Lord, I think of conversations with people who say they gave up on the church or the elders or the preacher. These weren’t responsive enough, caring enough, were too nosy or not what they needed to have been. But, ultimately, this points to the wayward one not being firm or unchanging within. Strengthening the heart is something only we can do for ourselves!

He Addresses The WHY: “The coming of the Lord is near.” Don’t focus on a time element here, but on the need to endure for as long as the time is. It’s constantly drawing nearer, not in a chronological sense, but as an expectation and assurance that we expect it any time. I don’t want to be caught living in a state of impatience with my brethren. If I am, it means I’ve lost focus on Christ’s Second Coming.

I don’t know what you are facing in your Christian life, even at the hands of another Christian. But I know this. You won’t answer for their sin and misbehavior, but realize that you are accountable for your response.

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

The Quality That Won The War For Independence

Neal Pollard

This week is the 250th anniversary of the birth of America, as July 4, 1776, was the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Because of this incredible milestone, I have been rereading David McCullough’s classic, simply entitled 1776. It is a captivating chronicle of one of the most monumental events in all human history. What this nation has achieved and the freedom and opportunity its citizens enjoy is unparalleled in so many ways.

As powerful, prosperous, and influential as the United States is on the world stage in 2026, the fledgling, ragtag people seeking its independence from the British was far different. McCullough writes that 1776 was “a year of far too few victories, of sustained suffering, disease, hunger, desertion, cowardice, disillusionment, defeat, terrible discouragement, and fear, as they would never forget, but also of phenomenal courage and bedrock devotion to country, and, that too, they would never forget” (294).

McCullough says this in the context of the leadership of George Washington, whom he describes as without brilliance as a strategist and tactician, not an orator or intellectual, and a general who had made “serious mistakes in judgment” (293). Yet, he preached “perseverance.” McCullough includes quotes from several of Washington’s letters to congress, officers, and general orders where he passionately admonished patience, courage, and perseverance. As McCullough informs us, “the war was a longer, far more arduous, and more painful struggle than later generations would understand or sufficiently appreciate. By the time it ended, it had taken the lives of an estimated 25,000 Americans, or roughly 1 percent of the population” (294).

Perseverance is “the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty” (BDAG, 1039). That quality helped a humble, tiny, and outmatched fledging nation emerge victorious against seemingly impossible odds. We still reap the benefits of their endurance.

Far greater than this nation and this world, the Christian must relentlessly fight for something that is literally timeless. Regarding this war, God through His inspired writers urges “perseverance” dozens of times. We must bear fruit with perseverance (Luke 8:15). We must do good in pursuit of eternal life by perseverance (Romans 2:7). Our proven good character is forged by perseverance (Romans 5:3-4). Our hope is shaped by perseverance (Romans 15:4). We are commended as servants of God through perseverance (2 Corinthians 6:4). We are strengthened with all power by perseverance (Colossians 1:11). Spiritual warfare is won by perseverance (1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:4). The man of God pursues perseverance (1 Timothy 6:11). Perseverance is essential to receive what God has promised (Hebrews 10:36). We must run the spiritual race with perseverance (Hebrews 12:1). Through perseverance, we can be made perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:4)–like Job (James 5:11). Perseverance is one of those Christian graces that will get us to heaven (2 Peter 1:6). Christ commends multiple churches of Asia Minor for having perseverance (Revelation 2:2-3, 19; 3:10).

The odds are stacked against us. We are Christian soldiers more apt to gaffes and missteps than brilliant tactics and strategies (1 Corinthians 1:26-27). At so many turns, our efforts seem futile and pointless. But, with God’s help and guidance, we are guaranteed victory (1 John 5:4). However, we must not quit!

I am proud to be an American, but I am also reminded by God that “our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). I cannot let physical and material blessings, even liberty and freedom, to keep me from pursuing “a better country” (Hebrews 11:13-16). The quality that makes the difference in our spiritual fight is perseverance!

Don’t give up the fight!

Working For Beans

Dale Pollard

Shammah is one of those Bible characters that deserves, in the author’s opinion, far more recognition than he gets. In 2 Samuel 23.11-12, the Philistines had once again attacked Israel and now the army is scrambling off with their tail between their legs. Everyone, that is, except for Shammah. He stood alone in a field of lentils as the charging Philistines came barreling right for him. Do you know how much cover you have in a lentil field? None. Not that a corn field would necessarily be better under the circumstances, but the text indicates that Shammah positioned himself in the center (v.12). Now, easily surrounded, the outcome should not have read like this…

“But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.”

It’s an incredible feat with some valuable lessons.

Most people imagine greatness happening in front of a large crowd, but many of God’s servants worked in those unnoticed places. Shammah didn’t defend some grand treasure hoard or a city gate. He protected a harvest of beans (with a mediocre taste) that fed people. The brief mention of Shammah in scripture gives us a glimpse of his character.

He wasn’t a quitter.

This guy tells us all that hard work isn’t just about ambition or chasing recognition. Sometimes it’s simply about standing your ground, doing your duty, and refusing to abandon the work God has put in front of you. If you’re working for the Lord, it’s important. Whether it’s providing for family, staying honest under pressure, or pushing on when it’s tempting to walk away—perseverance honors God.

Just like Shammah, a person may never become famous but being steadfast and relentless is a great victory when done for the Lord.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Col.3.23-24).

Protect the beans; the work doesn’t go unseen. 

Jesus Didn’t Retire

Gary Pollard

Satan tried to trip Jesus with a killer deal: “I’ll give you every nation in the world if you worship me” (Matt 4.8-10). This wouldn’t have been a temptation if he couldn’t deliver. What might Jesus have gained by having Satan give up control of every nation on earth? It would have made his job a lot easier! He wouldn’t have to fight with Pharisees or other hostiles. He wouldn’t have to disappear after teaching or healing. He could avoid the kind of rejection that broke his heart (Luke 19.41). 

Sometime after this encounter, Jesus started to recruit followers. He may have had Satan’s offer on his mind as he was calling Peter (Matt 4.18ff). He knew Peter would be so ashamed of him that he’d deny any connection to him (Matt 26.69-75). He knew that every one of his followers would abandon him when he most needed them (Matt 26.56). 

He still lived his life, he still taught, he still sacrificed himself for everyone. How many of us would still pursue something if we knew how painful or difficult the outcome would be? How many of us would continue to pursue something if we were given the option to take an easier path? 

Jesus didn’t even retire once his mission was accomplished! He faced homelessness, assault, rejection, betrayal, injustice, torture, and execution. I would have retired after that in a heartbeat, and I would feel that I had more than earned that retirement. 

After he went back to be with the father, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He’s a full-time mediator (I Jn 2.1-2). He’s making sure the natural universe operates as it should (Heb 1.3; Col 1.17). He’s keeping evil in check (Phil 3.21; I Cor 15.27). When the end comes, he’ll destroy the universe and judge every human who’s ever lived (Heb 9.27; II Pet 3.7-10; Rev 20.12, 21.1-2). 

Whew. He still loves us (Rom 8.35; II Cor 5.14; Gal 2.20; Rev 1.5)! He still gives grace with generosity (I Jn 1.7; Rom 5.15-21, 6.14). We serve a tireless God who invested everything in us and will do so until the end of time. Life gets us down and we ask, “Why?” Just remember who’s watching our backs and won’t ever let us down! 

The wilderness of Judea


Books by the Pollards

A Tiny Spark Snail Mail Club (Kathy Pollard)

Let’s Be Preoccupied

Neal Pollard

Being engrossed in thought or distracted can be a bad thing, when you are driving, operating heavy equipment, or conversing with your spouse. But if you are preoccupied with those tasks, you should be commended. There is a word found a handful of times in the New Testament which conveys a powerful thought. The word is προσκαρτερέω (prostartereo). Depending on context and whether it is connected with a person or an object, it is translated “stand ready” (Mark 3:9), “devoting” (Acts 1:14; 2:42; 6:4; Rom. 12:12; 13:6; Col. 4:2), “continuing” (Acts 2:46; 8:13), and “personal attendants” (Acts 10:7, noun form). Two of the passages speak of physical laborers who were focused on a task for one who had the right or power to command them (Mark 3:9; Acts 10:7; the Greek Old Testament uses this word in Numbers 13:21 when Moses tells the spies to “make an effort then to get some of the fruit of the land”). One speaks of how earthly rulers are servants of God, devoted to their rule). The other passages refer to actions Christians took the initiative to do.

What preoccupied the time, thoughts, and energies of the early saints?

  • Prayer (Acts 1:14; 2:42; 6:4; Col. 4:2).
  • The Apostles’ Teaching (Acts 2:42).
  • Fellowship (Acts 2:42).
  • The Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:42).
  • The Ministry Of The Word (Acts 6:4).

It’s not a long and complicated list. They were engrossed in the public and private practice of prayer. They were riveted on studying and knowing and sharing the Word. They were dialed in to spending time with each other (and welcoming others to become part of them). They were obsessed with coming together to praise and adore God in worship. It affected their whole lives all the time.

The word carries the idea “of decisive or unflinching perseverance” and “emphasizes the persistent and submissive perseverance and tenaciousness of a self-enclosed group collectively oriented toward specific goals” (EDNT, 172). As you evaluate your life, what are your preoccupations? Your obsessions? What are you constantly driven to think, say, and do? Does it reflect the undivided attention of the early Christians, who by such preoccupation took the gospel to the whole world (Col. 1:23) and turned it upside down (Acts 17:6)? Devoutness to exclusively the things that will be destroyed when Christ returns is a tragic distraction! Let’s boil life down to the irreducible imperatives, “the good part, which shall not be taken away from…” us (Luke 10:42).

He Survived Four Shipwrecks, Then He Died

Neal Pollard

Many stories have been written about Violet Jessop, a ship stewardess who survived the sinking of the Titanic and the Brittanic. But fewer know about someone who survived twice as many sinkings, including the two survived by Jessop. Arthur Priest, a stoker for the steam-powered ships, survived two major collisions and four shipwrecks. The Asturias was in a collision on its maiden voyage in 1908 and the Olympic survived a collision in 1911. Then, Priest survived the Titanic in 1912, the Alcantra in 1916, the Brittanic in 1916, and the Donegal in 1917. Two of the ships were luxury liners, one was a hospital ship, and the other was an armed merchant cruiser. For the latter, Priest was awarded the Mercantile Marine Ribbon by the British for service in World War I. He sustained a serious head injury on the Donegal, returning to his home in Southampton, England. 

As remarkable as all these survival stories are, Arthur Priest died of pneumonia with his wife Anna by his side in Southampton. He was 50 years old. There is very little information about what he did with a life spared four times from the depths of the sea. We don’t know if he was a religious man, much less a Christian. We don’t know much beyond the fact that he was unsinkable at sea.

Reading about Priest, I thought about a different kind of priest (cf. 1 Pet. 2:5,9) the New Testament tells us about. He wrote, “three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep” (2 Cor. 11:25). We know what this man did with his life, which was cut short in service to an infinitely greater King than the one who was on the throne in Arthur’s lifetime. He was in a war of far more lasting consequence (2 Cor. 10:4-5), and he was decorated for his service in a far more dramatic way (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

The likelihood that you and I will survive even one shipwreck is small. But, like Priest and Paul, we will ultimately die unless the Lord returns first. Even if our lives are not filled with dramatic tales of rescue and unlikely survival, we can leave a legacy of faith and fervor in service to our King (1 Tim. 6:15). We can share Paul’s victory, crowned with the victorious on that last day (Rev. 2:10). 

Dealing With Sin Aggressively

Sin won’t quit on its own. It has to be killed. The Bible doesn’t offer a gentle plan; it hands us a sword. Cut off the hand. Gouge out the eye. Put the old nature to death. This is love for the One who died so we could live free.

Carl Pollard

I was listening to a preacher on Facebook the other day and he said something that made me think. He said, “stop treating your sin like a pet, it’s time for us to deal aggressively with our sin!” I started looking for all the places in scripture that this concept is described. 

Jesus is clear: “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:29,). Sin isn’t a bad habit to manage, it’s a deadly growth that has to be cut out. The Bible never tells us to make peace with it. It tells us to kill it. That’s the normal Christian life.

Paul is clear: “So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me” (Romans 7:17). That word “dwells” means sin has set up camp inside us. It’s not a visitor; it’s a squatter that wrecks everything it touches. The only answer is eviction, forceful, immediate, and final. The Spirit is the one who hands us the tools.

Colossians 3:5 is clear: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” “Put to death” is a command to act now, not later. It’s not about slow improvement; it’s execution. Lust doesn’t get a warning, it gets killed. Greed doesn’t get an excuse, it gets the cross. Every morning we take sin’s corpse out to the curb.

Jesus continues: “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away” (Matthew 5:30). He’s using strong language on purpose. If something in your life, your phone, your habits, your friendships, keeps tripping you up, get rid of it. No debate. The word “causes you to sin” is the same one used for setting a trap. Whatever sets the trap has to go.

Romans 8:13 shows how we win: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Notice it’s “by the Spirit.” We don’t grit our teeth and try harder. We pray, read Scripture, fast, and stay accountable, then the Spirit does the heavy lifting. This is daily, ongoing war, not a one-time fix.

Sin won’t quit on its own. It has to be killed. The Bible doesn’t offer a gentle plan; it hands us a sword. Cut off the hand. Gouge out the eye. Put the old nature to death. This is love for the One who died so we could live free. Fighting sin hard is just what grace looks like in real life. Start today: name the sin, grab the weapon, trust the Spirit. Eternity is too close for anything less.

Making The Most Of Difficult Circumstances

Perhaps you are facing a difficult circumstance. It should not be trivialized or minimized. It might be painful and protracted. But it should neither be the source of defeat or an excuse to stop serving the Lord.

Neal Pollard

In Acts 28:16, Luke tells us that when Paul came to Rome he was allowed to stay by himself (in a house he paid for himself, according to verse 30). However, he was guarded by a Roman soldier. Paul again refers to this in Philippians 1:13, 17, and your version probably has either the word “imprisonment” or “bonds.” Many ancient historians tells us that the Romans would chain the prisoner and soldier together in a practice known as “Custodia Militaris.” Polybius, a Roman historian writing more than a 100 years before the first century, wrote, “They kept them bound with a chain to a soldier who was responsible for their custody” (Histories 1.88.8). Seneca and Josephus also record this practice.

Can you imagine what a daily problem this would have been? Consider the invasion of privacy, the unpredictable disposition of your companion, and the potential for scorn and humiliation? Yet, day after day, Paul would be chained to a soldier. The chains were 18-24 inches long (the British Museum has archaeological finds from the period), and the guards were rotated every four to six hours (Vegetius 3.8). Maybe the last guard was a nice guy, but the next was not so much. It could not have been an enjoyable task for the soldier either, and he might be inclined to take that out on the prisoner. 

But, how did Paul respond? Paul implies what he did as one guard came and another went. “my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else” (Phil. 1:13). These praetorian guards were elite Roman soldiers, also known as the imperial guard. This might further explain how the gospel reached members of Caesar’s household (Phil. 4:22). Imprisoned for preaching Jesus and shackled to worldly, hardened men, Paul taught the gospel. He learned to be content in every circumstance (Phil. 4:11), but that didn’t mean idle or self-absorbed.

Perhaps you are facing a difficult circumstance. It should not be trivialized or minimized. It might be painful and protracted. But it should neither be the source of defeat or an excuse to stop serving the Lord. Paul had a captive audience, literally bound to hear the good news from a man enduring what most would deem a bad fate. He transformed his difficulty into opportunity. May we have the will and wisdom to do the same! 

Trust In God

Faith is not a fleeting emotion or a vague hope; it is the foundation of a life surrendered to God. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This is not a blind leap but a resolute trust in the unseen promises of a God who never fails.

Carl Pollard

Faith is not a fleeting emotion or a vague hope; it is the foundation of a life surrendered to God. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This is not a blind leap but a resolute trust in the unseen promises of a God who never fails. Faith is what steadies us when life’s uncertainties threaten to unravel our peace. After all that has happened recently, faith has never been more essential for Christians. 

Scripture offers countless examples of faith in action. Take Abraham, called by God to leave his homeland for a place he did not know (Genesis 12:1-4). He had no map, no clear destination, only a promise from God. Yet he obeyed, not because he saw the outcome, but because he trusted the One who spoke. This is the essence of faith: moving forward when the path is hidden, anchored by confidence in God’s unchanging nature.

Jesus Himself taught that faith doesn’t need to be grand to be powerful. In Matthew 17:20, He said faith as small as a mustard seed could move mountains. This is the truth: God does not demand perfect or unshakeable faith, but simply a heart willing to trust Him one step at a time. Whether facing loss, uncertainty, or fear, faith is the quiet resolve to believe that God is sovereign, good, and working all things for His purpose (Romans 8:28).

In a world that prizes what can be seen and measured, faith sets us apart. It’s not ignorance or denial but a deliberate choice to rest in God’s truth over visible circumstances. When trials come, when the job is lost, the diagnosis is grim, or the future feels uncertain, faith is the anchor that holds us fast. It reminds us that we do not walk alone, because the One who holds all things together is with us (Colossians 1:17).

Faith, then, is both our shield and our strength. It is trusting God’s promises when doubt whispers and hope seems distant. It is the courage to say, “I cannot see the end, but I know the One who does.” And in that trust, we find the peace and power to endure.

The Cleveland Spiders

The Cleveland team was dreadful. It showed on the field and in the stands, where they drew an average of 199 fans after their first 16 home games. Only 6,088 fans watched them play that year, an average of 145 diehards per home game. They were so bad, they decided to play most of their games on the road.

Neal Pollard

Inexplicably, I remain a Colorado Rockies fan when many of my Denver-area friends have abandoned ship with this historically bad baseball team. The Rockies are last in total pitching and fielding (defense) and seventh-worst in hitting. That means they can’t pitch, hit, or field. They go into the All-Star game 22-74, on pace to join some dubious, infamous company. In the “modern era” (since 1901), there was the 1916 Philadelphia A’s who won 36 and lost 117. The 1935 Boston Braves and 1962 New York Mets were almost as bad. Closer to the present, you’d have to include the 2003 Detroit Tigers (43-119) and the 2024 Chicago White Sox (41-121). But, the symbol and epitome of terrible baseball has to be the 1899 Cleveland Spiders. They finished that season 20-134! But, their hard luck was more of a business decision.

The 1898 team boasted Hall of Famers Cy Young, Jesse Burkett, and Bobby Wallace, but the owners, who also owned the St. Louis Browns, felt that a good team would draw more fans in Missouri than Ohio. So, they depleted the Spider roster and stocked the Browns roster. The Cleveland team was dreadful. It showed on the field and in the stands, where they drew an average of 199 fans after their first 16 home games. Only 6,088 fans watched them play that year, an average of 145 diehards per home game. They were so bad, they decided to play most of their games on the road. To commemorate the centennial “celebration” of Clevelands wandering exiles, J. Thomas Hetrick memorialized them in his 1999 book, Misfits! Baseball’s Worst Team Ever. Apparently, the Spanish-American war, a failed effort to clean up bad language on the field, and “too many games” (expanding to 154; today, it’s 162) had already cut into fan attendance, but watching a “sideshow” like the Cleveland Spiders led to a disastrous end to a once-proud, championship-caliber franchise.

To fail in athletics may lead to a less than desirable footnote in sports history. To fail in academics and economics can create a legacy that stains one’s family name. But, in just about every arena, failure need not affect one’s spiritual standing. Think of biblical underdogs that had little chance of success, if God was not factored in. Why, all of Israel were sitting ducks against the Canaanites without God (Deut. 7:24; Josh. 21:44)! David looked like no match for Goliath (1 Sam. 17:33)! Hezekiah and lowly Judah, on paper, were no match for Sennacherib and the Assyrians (Isa. 37:14-20)! Even the early church seemed overwhelmed in their objectives and mismatched in their mission (1 Cor. 1:26-29)!

How do we explain this? How can we seem to lack the talent, resources, exposure, and influence of the world, and yet still be described as over-comers (John 16:33), conquerors (Rom. 8:37), victors (1 Cor. 15:57), and greater (1 John 4:4) than the world? Perhaps this helps. The final tally has not been recorded, and it will not be in this life! Evaluation day will surprise the whole world, when we stand before The Judge (Mat. 7:13-14, 21-23; Rev. 20:11-15). God’s not going to reward the most accomplished by earthly measurements. Our eternal success or failure will be tied to our response to the One who defeated death and the devil (Heb. 2:14-15). If we trusted and obeyed Him and His blood covers our sins, we will go to heaven even if we don’t have a nickel to our name, a well-defined skill in our toolbox, a diploma or degree on our wall, or a celebrity in our family tree. Maybe others deem you a “loser,” but if you are a “winner” with God that’s the record you want to have!

The Importance Of Grip Strength

Studies show that one of the most reliable indicators of longevity is a person’s grip strength. It is a great way to measure overall muscle conditioning, which is an indicator of overall nutrition, physical activity, and “disease profile.”

Neal Pollard

Studies show that one of the most reliable indicators of longevity is a person’s grip strength. It is a great way to measure overall muscle conditioning, which is an indicator of overall nutrition, physical activity, and “disease profile.” Muscle mass helps one fight the wear and tear of aging, and studies increasingly show that grip strength is a good “proxy” for a lot of other areas of a person’s health picture (source).

New Testament writers speak figuratively of the importance of a strong grip. Paul tells Thessalonica to “keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and in letter” (2 Th. 2:15, NLT). The word “grip” (“hold on to,” NAS) means to “retain in the hand, to seize” (Louw-Nida, 220). This word translated “hold” or “hold fast to” is found frequently in the gospels in a literal sense, often translated as “seize,” “arrest,” and “take hold of,” but also figuratively as “observing” something with zeal. John uses it with the seven churches of Asia to urge them to “hold fast” to their faith (Rev. 2:1, 13,14,15,25; 3:11). Twice, the Hebrews writer uses this word as a way of expressing endurance and faithfulness (4:14; 6:18). In other words, strengthen your grip!

There are a lot of ways to assess your spiritual grip strength:

  • Devotional time with God
  • Acts of service for others
  • Church attendance
  • Involvement in the church’s works
  • The bearing of the fruit of the Spirit
  • Godly and righteous speech
  • A Christlike attitude and spirit
  • Boldness to share Christ with others
  • The ability to resist gossip
  • Faithfulness in trials and hardships
  • Resistance to peer pressure
  • Focus on the needs of others

Of course, there are countless other measurements. But these are broad and representative of spiritual endurance. They challenge us to avoid being weak in faith, allowing ourselves to let go of Christ and the reward He has promised to those who hold on!

They say that grip strength for the hand can be measured and improved by squeezing a tennis ball at maximum strength for up to 30 seconds. Who hasn’t owned one of those hand grippers? For spiritual strength, search for ways like those listed above to hold to God’s unchanging hand!

A Better Brain

Dale Pollard

The largest brain on record belongs to the sperm whale. A sperm whale’s brain can weigh around 17-20 pounds which is significantly larger than a human brain, which weighs about 3 pounds on average. The sperm whale’s brain is not only the largest in weight but also in size, which fits their equally impressive body size as one of the largest mammals in the ocean. 

But what makes the human brain special isn’t its size. The ability to communicate with and even adopt similar characteristics as the God who made it is what sets it apart. 

Persecution makes life fearful for the faithful but Timothy’s obstacles are both external and internal. On the outside he faces pagan people, jealous Jews, and the sword swinging soldiers of Rome. On the inside, the Christians who make up this young congregation are being led and taught by a young man— Timothy. He battles self doubt and a lack of confidence in his own abilities. To top it off, his mentor is in prison. 

Paul pens the inspired words that would lift young Timothy’s spirit by reminding him that the human spirit was designed to handle and persevere under such daunting circumstances. Paul writes (from a cell), 

“God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.” 1.7

The spirit (πνεῦμα) referred to here is not the Holy Spirit, but it’s the “disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one.”  God did not give us the spirit of skittishness so that we’d cower under confrontation or burn out under prospects of suffering. Holiness amidst hostility is an ability that comes standard on the base model human spirit. It’s not a possibility, it’s a guarantee. 

Power

We’re equipped with power (δύναμις) that is, “inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature.”

Love 

That aggressive strength is powerfully combined with love (ἀγάπη). In this case the word refers to an affection or good will towards others. The God given spirit is not heartless. We have the power to show affection yet some choose to pretend as if their personalities are simply not capable of showing this attribute. 

Self-control 

A sound mind (σωφρονισμός) is simply the ability to control yourself. We share a commonality with Paul’s protégé. Some have tried to cheapen and downgrade the human race, God’s focal point of creation, to an animalistic status. It’s taught by educated but ignorant scholars who try to deny an undeniable God. We’ve been fashioned in the image of an eternal Being and our spirits drive an immortal soul. We aren’t designed to live in a constant state of timidity we’re creations of courage. Courage is not the absence of a fearful feeling but it’s the ability to face that fear— and move forward.  

The Will To Survive

Neal Pollard

Juliana Koepke was 17 years old when she boarded a flight with her mother and 90 other people in Lima, Peru, on Christmas Eve, 1971. The plane had a terrible service record and her father urged his wife and daughter to wait for a better one, but they wanted to be reunited for Christmas. That was the disposition of the airline and flight crew, too. So they pressed on, even as severe weather stood between them and their arrival at Iquitos. A lightning strike broke the plane apart, ultimately killing every crew member and passenger except Juliana. She survived a fall of 10,000 feet, landing in the Amazon Jungle still strapped to her seat.

She suffered a broken collar bone, deep gash in her arm, an eye injury, and a concussion. The near-sighted Juliana lost her glasses and one of her sandals. She then walked through the dense Amazon Jungle for 10 days and finally found shelter in a hut that night. Local fishermen found her and took her by canoe to civilization. She used the survival skills her parents had taught her since early childhood and combined it with her sheer will to survive. Now 70 years old, she continues her parents’ work of biological research to this day in the same jungle where she survived the crash. There were things she had no influence over that helped her survive the initial crash, and the help of others was indispensable to her survival. But being saved from death, she didn’t give up until she was ultimately rescued.

Don’t you think our circumstances are similar, in a figurative sense? We didn’t influence God’s eternal plan of salvation, but we can benefit from it. We will not be saved without the influence and assistance of others along the way. But being saved from death, we can and must endure to the end (2 Tim. 2:12; Heb. 10:36). If we do, we will experience an eternal rescue. God wants to rescue every one of us from spiritual death (Gal. 1:4). But He won’t save us without our cooperation!

Juliana today

Much information gleaned from here

The Profound Context of Matthew 16:24

Brent Pollard

The Pitfalls of Proof-texting

Are you occasionally guilty of proof-texting? Proof-texting is the practice of using specific passages from the Bible to justify a larger body of doctrine or belief. For example, teaching that a simple prayer is all required to obtain salvation is incorrect when someone uses a verse like Romans 10:13. However, we may occasionally engage in sloppy proof-texting. It might become a standard practice to pull a verse out of context and use it to teach a specific lesson, especially when delivering a sermon on a timely topic.

Sometimes, I’m like the Ethiopian official of Acts 8, unable to understand independently and needing a Phillip to guide me in applying Scripture. On other occasions, I’ve not been as diligent in my Bible reading and study. As an illustration, consider Matthew 16.24:

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me…’” (NASB)

Unpacking Matthew 16.24

So, what is the deeper meaning behind this verse? At a cursory glance, it advocates living a selfless, Christ-centered life. Can that be the correct point of view but an incomplete answer? Have you ever pondered on Jesus’ motivation for this statement? Considering the verses around it highlights the importance of this particular verse even more.

Foretelling His Death

Before Matthew 16.24, Jesus reveals His impending suffering, death, and resurrection in Jerusalem to His disciples. Matthew elaborates on this detail in verse 21. Following Peter’s rebuke, Jesus retorts, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s purposes, but men’s.” (Matthew 16.23 NASB) This rebuke paves the way for His subsequent proclamation.

Cost of Discipleship

When Jesus asked His disciples to “take up their crosses,” He wasn’t merely alluding to inconveniencing themselves. In the Roman context, the cross symbolized a horrific death. Jesus propounds a radical form of discipleship, which might entail severe hardships, even to the extent of death.

Identity of Jesus

The backdrop of Matthew 16.13–20, where Peter acknowledges Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” intensifies the narrative. Their recognition of His identity as the Messiah profoundly impacts His call to discipleship and the prophecy of His demise.

Theme of the Kingdom

Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, the theme of the Kingdom is prevalent. Jesus paints a picture of a Kingdom that defies worldly conventions—where the last shall be first, the meek inherit the earth, and true leaders serve. The call to bear one’s cross redefines power, leadership, and sacrifice within this framework.

Post Matthew 16:24’s Context

After 16.24, in verses 25–28, Jesus revisits the essence of radical discipleship. He challenges established ideas about life, pointing towards a deeper spiritual understanding.

Broader Interpretation

Many correctly perceive Jesus’ words in Matthew 16.24 as a directive to lead a Christ-focused life. But its genuine gravitas emerges when contextualized. After foretelling His sufferings and ultimate sacrifice, Jesus presents discipleship not as mere renunciation but potentially a path encompassing suffering, even death. Peter’s affirmation and the recurring Kingdom theme in Matthew magnify this verse’s impact. To fully grasp its true meaning, one must look at the larger narrative and how it fits the Gospel’s overarching theme: the Kingdom’s reversal of societal norms and values. This comprehensive viewpoint adds depth and richness to the essence of Christian faith, emphasizing the importance of perseverance.

Praying Paul’s Prayers

Carl Pollard

Seeing Paul’s prayer life and how strong it was and how much he relied on it shows me how much I lack in my personal prayer life. A major eye-opener is reading about the absolute and total trust that he had in prayer. 

In Philippians 1:3-8, we read Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving. Most often in our own prayers we are not specific in our requests. And it seems like more and more, the only times we pray is when we need something. But this is not the case for Paul. Just by reading through a few of his prayers you can see his genuineness and the true relationship that he had with God.

Not only did Paul have a genuinely healthy personal prayer life, he also didn’t pray for just himself. The next time you read one of Paul’s prayers, notice in how detailed a way he prays for others. In Philippians 1, we read of how he prayed for the Christians there. But he wasn’t vague; his prayers were specific to their needs. He prayed that they would approve the things that are excellent, that they would be sincere, that they would be without spot, for their perseverance, that they would be filled with the fruit of righteousness, and that God would be praised and glorified.

Paul recognized the power of prayer and what praying for others can accomplish. And I think sometimes we can forget just how powerful prayer truly is. Most say, “All we can do now is pray.” But we have it all wrong when we say this. The very first thing we should do in trials and struggles is to pray. We see our greatest example, Jesus, do this before He went to the cross. We read of Paul and how he was always praying for others.

Paul prayed for the Philippians’ perseverance, and we need to persevere in our prayers during trials. Paul says in Philippians 1:3-4, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy…” He says “every prayer” not some or a few of his prayers. He was dedicated to praying. Paul tells the Philippians he prayed that “your love may abound more and more…” And I pray the same thing, that our love may grow more for others and that we might be able to pray for others more and remember their needs when we go to the Father. 

Encouraging Each Other

Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

I Thessalonians 2.17-3.5 proves that Satan will always try to interfere with our work. He will do everything within his power to keep us from encouraging each other. It’s very interesting that of all the things to target, he’s identified our encouraging each other as most threatening to his goals.

He’ll also do everything in his power to destroy our confidence in God. For reasons I don’t fully understand, Satan has it out for the human race. This is pure conjecture, but perhaps jealousy has something to do with it. We know from scripture that angels really wanted to know what God was doing with his plan to save humanity (I Pt 1.12). Angels don’t get any kind of grace when they mess up (Jd 6; II Pt 2). Maybe Satan – as a bad-guy angel – doesn’t like that God gives preferential treatment to inferior living beings.

1 Thessalonians 3.6-13 contains a guide for avoiding burnout in our faith. If we start to run out of steam, we should remember how important our work is. It’s also encouraging to think about the lives we’ve impacted. This is grounding, and it’s a tangible reminder of how important our work is. We also learn that it’s important to focus exclusively on other people. This is even used in behavioral therapy to help manage depression and anxiety–doing things for others is very beneficial for our own mental health.

When we start to burn out, we can also pray constantly. Even though the conversation is one-sided (from our perspective at least), prayer is how we communicate with God. When we get burnt out. God will give us the oomph we need if we just ask for it. Our ultimate goal is to be morally pure when Jesus comes back, and the only way we’ll be able to make that happen is with his help.

Gary Pollard

The Struggles Of The Righteous

(Pinch Hitting For Brent, Who Is Sick)

(This is from today’s Lehman Learner)

Neal Pollard

Perhaps Jeremiah seemed to be mean, harsh, even unloving, to his brethren. His message is certainly what we could categorize as negative, but we remind ourselves that its source was God. What may get lost in Jeremiah’s challenging message is how it affected him to share it. Chapter nine is full of the struggles he endured in being God’s spokesman with a message of divine judgment.

Jeremiah endured mourning (1). While Judah would be hypercritical and threatening toward Jeremiah for his message, they had him all wrong. He did not relish his unpleasant message. He would have preferred to have kept his mouth closed (20:9). They had no idea of how his mission was wearing on him. He writes, “Oh that my head were waters And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people!” He knew that they were hurting themselves by their lifestyle, and he wanted them to escape judgment. It can be heartbreaking work to share God’s word on any number of unpleasant, unpopular subjects. No rational preacher, elder, or teacher is excited to share such a message, but it must be done (2 Tim. 4:2).  Jeremiah is rightly called the “weeping prophet” (8:18; 13:17; Lam. 2:18). Revealing this was an emotional struggle.

Jeremiah endured isolation  (2). The pressures of sharing a message nobody wanted to hear created inevitable isolation. He felt alone and like nobody understood or cared. He longs to escape such disappointing, unrighteous behavior. He wanted to run like Jonah. He felt alone like Elijah. It can go with the business of declaring God’s message. There are times when you may feel like you are standing all alone, but you never will if you are sharing God’s word God’s way. He will never leave you (Mat. 28:20; Heb. 13:6). 

Jeremiah endured disillusionment (3-6). He expected more and better from his brethren. They knew better, but they were guilty of treachery and adultery (2), lies and deceit (3,5-6), ignorance (3), violence (4), slander (5), and general iniquity (5). Have you ever overheard someone you looked up to use foul language or stumbled upon someone doing something sinful? It’s like a punch in the gut. But imagine a congregation full of people doing what God through Jeremiah reports. It had to have been discouraging and caused feelings of hopelessness. 

Jeremiah endured a sinking realization (7-11). What was the cost of this? Sin is not without consequences (Gal. 6:7-8; Hos. 8:7; Prov. 6:26). At the heart of God’s message was this rhetorical question: “Shall I not punish them for these things?” (9). Jeremiah knew what was coming. There would be weeping, wailing, and dirges (funeral songs)(10).  Judah would be ruined and desolate (11). Jeremiah knew this ahead of time. Whatever normalcy he witnessed each morning and evening, he knew that would ultimately change. The fact of judgment looms over the horizon of time. It will be a day of rejoicing for the righteous and prepared, but not for the rest of humanity. The people of Judah were not ready for this judgment, and Jeremiah knew that. 

Jeremiah endured being overwhelmed (12-16). The message gets specific about the nature of what was coming. It was going to be more devastating than any of them had experienced. Because of their stubborn rebellion, they would be scattered and annihilated. Hope belongs to the penitent, but there’s just no good news for those who are determined to oppose God’s way.  

Jeremiah endured unpleasant duty (17-22). God tells Jeremiah to call for mourning, wailing, and tears (17-19). He is help them focus on their shame (19).  The heart of the message was death (20-22). Don’t you think Jeremiah would have loved to have spoken of grace, mercy, lovingkindness, and blessings? But the circumstances did not call for that. Jeremiah had to be faithful to God’s message. Like Micaiah, every faithful spokesman for God should say, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I shall speak” (1 Ki. 22:14). 

There is a ray of hope starting in 9:23. Amid the folly of idolatry, there will be a reminder of the wonderful, perfect character of God in chapter ten. But even here, there is encouragement for God’s faithful servant. It was a message for the worldly wise, for the mighty man, and for the wealthy (23) not to trust in those things, but to trust in Him. Everyone should boast of knowing and understanding God, that He is “the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things” (24). Punishment was for the spiritually uncircumcised (25-26). It was not for the faithful, like His man Jeremiah. Whatever we have to struggle through for the Savior, may we know that God will be with us through thick and thin. He has not left us alone. He will always be with us, help us, and strengthen us! Declaring His word is right, and He will not let us lose for being unswervingly loyal to it and Him!