This Is Different.

"It takes determination to remain different." - Chuck Swindoll

Daily, almost by the hour, society and the modern day culture continues to decline. It seems like every other headline is more unbelievable and mind-dropping than the one that appeared in our social media newsfeed just a few minutes ago. Meanwhile, the push against the church continues, even to the point where certain groups want to find a course of action to influence what is preached from the pulpit.

Yet, the church is a team, as much as the family is a team, as is the marriage itself. So if the goal or the enemy seeks to gain any ground, the starting point is pick off the leader or any of the higher-ups. If it's not the husband can't be defeated, the wife becomes the target. Same for the family... if not dad, then mom. If not the parents, the kids. The senior pastor. No luck? Someone else on the team. A deacon. The enemy is full of weapons and while it can be argued that he is very methodical in his approach, there area at times, that he is simply shooting as many arrows as he can in hopes that there will be such a sense of overwhelming bombardment that he'll take whatever access point he can to infiltrate and destroy from within.

The headlines are getting ridiculous. It's hard not to miss that society's tension is indeed a spiritual battle. Sadly, the victories the church is experiencing nobody ever hears about and the defeats are praised and heralded, is if to be used as an argument or indictment against us. Of course, in the middle is compromise... on the message and the theology and the doctrine. It's another access point. One more that we don't need, nor do we have the time to engage by creating it.

Pray this #deaconThursday, that God would strengthen the leadership team of the church. Pray that God would give them wisdom and discernment as they navigate these interesting and befuddling times. May the renew and fortify their resolve to the ministry. To love God. To love people. To preach the Word. To speak truth. Pray for a hedge of protection over marriages and relationships; that the leadership of the church would stand united in their efforts to impact their community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Dare to be different.
Determine to be different.
For the glory of God
For the love of humanity

- PNC