Faith Matters Podcast

#576 - Warfare; Day 1

Days after the tragedy of 9/11 struck our nation’s soul, members of the special forces known as the Green Beret were asked to pack their bags, leave their families and head straight into the heart of warfare. While each of us back home struggled to come to grips with the devastation that came about so suddenly, these men set out to do something about it. They flew there with one goal in mind: Stop the enemy before the enemy could make another attack on innocent lives. The special forces knew that if they could get to the root of the attack in a limited amount of time, they could win the immediate war of protecting citizens on America’s soil. They could protect individuals, families, churches and communities but only by letting go of what they once knew concerning conventional warfare and embracing a strategy that would work. One man, Mark Nutsch, was chosen to lead the twelve men into battle. Despite having no combat experience, his confidence and ability to think outside of normative approaches during the vetting process won him the assignment. Little did the military leaders know at the time of choosing him that Mark’s experience growing up on his family’s ranch, working as a ranch hand in college and riding horses in rodeos would be one of his greatest assets. After all, this wasn’t a war fought with militaries lined up and facing each other on opposite sides. Nor was it even a war fought in the trenches. Rather, to excel in this war, combatants would need to battle the elements, ride horses over rough and dangerous terrain, and outwit an opponent who knew the landscape like the back of their own hands. To win this battle, Mark and his team of eleven other brave men would have to fight according to the rules of the enemy themselves. Their campaign was supposed to take six weeks but due to weather, they sought to complete it in three. It was supposed to take multiple teams of Green Beret but due to the elements, topography, and lack of entrance points, they were given only one team of twelve men. It was supposed to rack up a high level of casualties on the American side due to the risks involved, they walked away with none. Because these men chose to adapt to the environment and allies surrounding them and work within the strategies at hand, they accomplished what few, if any, thought they even could. On horseback, they battled tanks and troops armed with missiles. And won.Maybe it was Mark’s lack of previous combat experience which opened him up to adapting his strategy to the battle at hand more so than someone else possibly could have. We’ll never know for sure. But one thing we do know is that it was his willingness to set aside logic, convention and what had been recorded over time on paper that allowed him to approach this battle in a way unlike any other that had been fought in the history of our nation. It also allowed him to lead his team of twelve into the quickest, most decisive victory in the history of our nation. 2000 years ago, another team of twelve followed another unconventional leader. He didn’t ride a horse, but He rode a donkey. It didn’t take him three weeks, but it took Him three days. He didn’t fight for a nation, but He fought for a kingdom. And won.In doing so, He secured for each of us the victory which is ours to claim.Yet only as we are willing to follow Him by laying down our own logic, our own perspective, our own approach and our own understanding of how to fight this war will we discover the fullness and effects of that victory in every area of our lives. It is in following Christ as our Captain that we can win this war. It is in studying His battle plan that we can discover how to carry out our own. It is in conforming our hearts and transforming our minds to His that we will gain the strategic insights we need to live out the victory He has already secured for us.See, this battle is unlike any other battles before. This battle has already been decided. The outcome has already been secured. Jesus Christ gained the victory through His death, burial, and resurrection. But in order for us to experience the manifestation of that victory in our own lives, we will need to learn how to maneuver through the mines left behind from an enemy still bent on making our lives miserable along the way. We'll look at some helpful tips in the next few days of this reading plan.

#571 - Faith Matters - Book of Signs - Ch 7 Immorality

Faith Matters with Brian and Andi HaleFollow along as Andi and Brian continue evaluating The Book Of Signs, Chapter 7- Immorality by Dr. David Jeremiah and what it means for us in today's upside down world.American culture now resembles a stained glass window through which no light is shining. We are living in a world where anything goes, but nothing satisfies. Our moral compass seems no longer to have a 'true north.' The needle spins crazily, looking for a direction on which to settle. Depravity, or godlessness, is the root cause of America's moral decline.We have taken the downward steps from ingratitude to idolatry, from idolatry to immorality, and from immorality to iniquity. But how do we escape this downward spiral? The Saving Grace of Jesus Christ!

Dealing with Uncertainty; Day 3

Dealing with Uncertainty; Day 2

Dealing with Uncertainty; Day 1

Dealing with Uncertainty on YouVersion read by Brian and Andi Hale Day 1 of 5Finding Courage in the Face of UncertaintyBe strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.Joshua 1:6 Think of Joshua as he prepared to lead the Israelites into Canaan—a place overrun by their enemies. Although God promised them this land, the journey to obtain the promise was long, hard, and filled with uncertainty. Perhaps that’s why God reminds Joshua: “Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous…” God knew Joshua’s secret concerns, and so He spoke to the fear in Joshua’s heart. The same God who encouraged Joshua also wants to encourage you. He understands how easily fear and anxiety can paralyze anyone forced out of their comfort zones and into circumstances beyond their control. Thankfully, no matter how uncertain you may feel, the outcome of every situation is known to God. And God promises to never leave or forsake those who draw near to Him. His children are never alone. You are not alone. And your future is held in His hands.So, how do you deal with uncertainty? You acknowledge your limitations, lay down your expectations, and pick up God’s declarations. Over the next 4 days, we’ll take a closer look at these steps and discover how to incorporate them into our daily lives.A Prayer for Facing Uncertainty: God, I know that You can work all things together for good. But right now, I’m overwhelmed by what’s going on around me. The future feels uncertain and I want to panic. Please help me. Remind me of Your promises. Fill me with courage and give me strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Over the next few days, use this Plan to speak to my heart and encourage my soul. In Jesus’ name, Amen.No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”Joshua 1:5-9

Dealing with Uncertainty; Day 5

Practice Being Still “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”Exodus 14:14 Just after they escaped from Egypt, Moses encouraged the Israelites with those words. Perhaps he understood that our natural reaction in moments of uncertainty is to restlessly bounce between anxiety and despair. Feelings of uncertainty can result in the prefrontal cortex in your brain “shutting down”: impairing your ability to solve problems, pay attention, and stay flexible. This increases your chances of engaging in irrational behavior and makes you more prone to anxiety, depression, and stress. That’s why it’s important to fix your mind on what matters by centering your heart on God’s truths. Stillness is a discipline that takes continual, conscious practice, but the act of stillness sharpens our senses and makes us more aware of God’s presence in our present circumstances. So, how do you practice being still? One practical way is by walking through the 3 action steps discussed this week: Acknowledge your limitations: Spend a couple of minutes paying attention to what you’re feeling, and name those emotions. Give yourself permission to not feel okay. This process helps break the cycle of intrusive, anxious thoughts, and helps your brain start to think through new ways to handle uncertain situations. Lay down your expectations: What’s currently causing you to feel anxious or afraid? Visualize putting those concerns into a box, and then give that box over to God. Ask Him to replace your worries with reminders of His promises. (You may have to repeat this process several times before you feel ready to move on.) Pick up God’s declarations: Spend at least 5 minutes pouring over God’s promises. Imagine putting them on like clothing, and ask God to show you which ones He wants you to focus on that day. (Some days, it may seem like God has a lot to say, and other days, it may feel like God is quiet. Both are normal, natural fluctuations in healthy relationships.) Whatever you face in the weeks ahead, remember that nothing you experience is uncertain to God. He was at work in your past, He’s here in your present, and He holds your future. Hold fast to His promises and trust that He is good.Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.James 4:13-14He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;he burns the chariots with fire.“Be still, and know that I am God.I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth!”The Lord of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress.Psalm 46:9-11The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”Exodus 14:14