Be careful for nothing part 4, end – not worrying
Be careful for nothing part 3 – not worrying
Be careful for nothing part 2 – not worrying
Be careful for nothing part 1 – not worrying
Notes about Fatherhood from the greatest Father part 5 end
Notes about fatherhood from the greatest Father part 4
Notes about fatherhood from the greatest Father part 3 partial
Notes about fatherhood from the greatest Father part 2
Notes about Fatherhood from the greatest Father part 1
Jason Lyons “Ezra prepared his heart”
Jason Lyons “Hold onto righteousness”
Jason Lyons “With great power”
Jason Lyons “Restore Unto me the Joy of Thy Salvation”
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What Christ Has Saved Us From and For

Pastor Andy’s YouTube Sermons

Pastor Andy at Ponderosa Baptist Church in Flagstaff, AZ

June 28th, 2020 (Sunday Morning and Sunday Evening) 1 Corinthians 1:12 Our Testimony Our Joy (Parts 1 – 2)

August 2nd and 5th 2020 (Sunday Morning, Sunday Evening, Wednesday Night) II Peter 1 Never Fall (Parts 1 – 3)

Articles in the local newspaper “Hopi Tutuveni”

COVID19 and Fear (Part 2) – September 2, 2020

This is Pastor Andy in Bacavi. In this article we will deal with daily fear. All human beings feel fear. I will endeavor to give you Bible verses to help calm the heart and spirit. We will also give a few practical pointers to help calm ourselves. Sometimes physical ailments can exacerbate fear in bodies making us quite a bit more susceptible to it. I myself know what it is to have to deal with intense fears and have to calm the body and mind.

For those that have decided (this is your choice, no one can make you do it) to trust in Jesus and His death, burial, and resurrection as payment for your sins you have many promises in scripture at your disposal. The Bible says in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” One very important note about fear is that it is voluntary. We either let ourselves be troubled and afraid, or we don’t let ourselves. There are some medical conditions that just cause involuntary fear or anxiety, but you can calm those too. Fear can be a good thing. God gives it to us to protect us, to warn us about danger, and even to strengthen us if we need the adrenalin. We can let this emotion overwhelm us and cause us to be irrational when we only think about the item or situation that scares us. The peace of God that John talks about comes from believing Gods promises and letting your heart calmly trust in them.

For instance, if we have trusted in Jesus for eternity we can make a choice to fret about it daily or we can say “God gave me His promise that I am going to Heaven, so I will not let myself worry about it.” As we learn to trust all of Gods promises, we can calm each fear. Did you know that God says many times in Scripture to fear not?

We can choose not to fear by changing what we think about. Philipians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” When we only put into our mind that which we are afraid of, it will cause continual fear. Don’t think on wicked things, but change what your mind dwells on to quiet the fear. Turn the news off. Do not search for it online. Read a wholesome book and get engaged in the plot. When you talk to your friends, do not talk about what you fear. If there is a family emergency and you have to know then go ahead and discuss what you fear (Covid-19, etc). Other then that, skirt the subject. Think of things you wish to do with your family that are pleasant. Set goals for the garden or house work and concentrate on that. Listen to calm music. If you listen to music that matches your mood, or music that talks about a lot of the same things you went through in life, it will magnify fears or bad feelings. This can include heavy metal, blues, and country music to name a few. Remember, you want to change what you are thinking about. Keep the beat soothing as well, not just the words. Of course, ideally this would be soothing Christian music. Wholesome audio books will work as well. Also, along these lines would be memorization. The Bible would be best, especially encouraging passages or promises. However, the principle will work for a wholesome poem or quote from a favorite book.

Count the good things in your life. If we always dwell on the bad, life will seem so glum. Make yourself see the good in things. The body naturally wants to be negative; don’t let it. Psalms 27:13 says, “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” We can see good things all around us. As long as we have breath, we can praise the Lord. All of humanity has struggles; don’t let those struggles become your focus.

God has not abandoned us. It is important to remember that God is in control. There is a lot that could be said on this subject so I will keep it very brief. People that we know passing away brings us face-to-face with our mortality. God can use this so that we stop our busy lives and think about Him. He also wants us to know that He has a plan for our life and that He loves us. Unfortunately, sin brings death to all. Remember that Christ died so that we can have eternal life even after this mortal existence. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” We can never understand everything, but God does and we just have to trust Him. One of the greatest promises the Christian has is the promise of eternity with everyone else who has trusted Christ. How much sweeter that promise is when it includes your own family members who have passed on!

It is okay to be cautious. All of this is to help us to start learning how to control our fear. It does not mean that if you are susceptible to this disease that you should not take precautions. If you are elderly or have pre-existing health problems you should be cautious with Covid-19. Everyone should be taking their vitamins and keeping their body strong. If you think the virus could seriously hurt you, try to not be around those who might have it. There are many things that you can do to be safe. Just remember that fretting does not keep you safe. Fear often cripples; it does not enable. If you or a loved one is struggling with Covid-19, please feel free to let us know and we will pray for you/them. We have prayed for the Hopi nation and individuals during this time and our prayers will still be with you.

I have a Facebook page where I post a Bible verse almost every day during this time. If you wish to be encouraged in this way, feel free to friend me (Andrew Magnarella). If you do not have internet or Facebook, you are welcome to text me. I will save your number and text you the verses every day if you request it (928-206-7811). I live in Bacavi. If anyone would like to do a phone counseling session, or short Bible studies for encouragement, feel free to contact me in any way and we will set a time. www.bbctkd.com is my website.

Pastor Andy

COVID19 and Fear (Part 1) – August 19 2020

Hi, this is Pastor Andy from Bethel Baptist Church in Bacavi. I hope this article is an encouragement to you. We are living in strange times. After four months, villages are locking down more, school looks like it will go online, and many people are trying to stay inside. In this article I would like to address some things the Bible has to say about fear to the end that it might bring some comfort and direction in these times.

            The first thing I would like to address is eternity. Most people today say they do not consider what will happen we when we pass away. We may ignore the question, but it is a nagging question of our being. During this time, I have talked to many people, young and old, who say they are actually taking time to contemplate this very thing. Who do you believe God is? Where do you believe eternity is located? How do you believe one arrives at the desired location?

            I believe the Bible, that every word in it is true, and that God gave that single book to us; that we may know who He is, how to please Him, how to reach Him, and how we should live our lives on this earth. According to the Bible, eternity can start in a place called Heaven – Heaven is where Jesus (God) resides – or it can be in Hell for eternity. The Bible says Jesus is God and there is no other. Lastly how does arrive in the good eternity (Heaven)? The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” When we die, things do not just start over again. We will stand before our Creator (Jesus) and answer for our life.

            Some people believe you should have some sort of gift for the Creator when you pass on. Let me ask you: what gift will you give the Creator as payment for the sins of your soul? If He created all things, and you take nothing with you when you pass, what could you possibly offer Him? Psalms 49:7-8 says, “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)” Nothing that you can earn is worth the price of a man’s soul.

Other people believe that as long as they are good enough, they can make it to the good after life. How good is good? Who determines how good you have to be? To most people, the determining factor is themselves. This makes them their own god. They will be very disappointed…

Lastly, some people believe that someone has to be good to pay for the sins of the people. How good is good? The reality is that someone would have to be perfect. Do you know anyone who is ceremonially perfect (religiously), physically perfect (never sinned, never swore, never stolen, etc.), and perfect in all relationships (actions towards family, friends, and co-workers)? This has only ever been accomplished by Jesus Christ because He is God. No human being can be this perfect! Sin brings death. The reason Jesus was able to rise from the dead after taking all of humanity’s sins on Him and paying for them was because He is God and He was sinless. Romans 1:4 says of Jesus, “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”

In conclusion to this first set of questions… We as humans have no gift we can give, nor can we be good enough to pay for our sins. God loved us so much that He gave Himself as a gift for us. He became human so that He could live sinless and pay for our sins for us. In living sinless, He fulfilled every law: the religious law, physical law, and the relational law! Because God did this for us, if we accept His payment, we do not have worry about eternity. We do not have to fret about our actions because everything has been paid for and fulfilled. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

If you believe in Jesus by faith and ask Him to pay your sin debt for you, He does it freely and willingly. When this event takes place in your life and you rest in these truths, it removes fear. 1John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” You no longer have to fear what happens when you pass, or what eternity will be like because you have the promise of God that you will be with Him! If part of the reason you are fearful during this time is because you fear eternity, then I urge you to choose Jesus and rest in His promises!

In the next part of this article, I will deal with daily fear now that eternal fear is settled. I have a Facebook page where I post a Bible verse almost every day during this time. If you wish to be encouraged in this way, feel free to friend me (Andrew Magnarella). If you do not have internet or Facebook, you are welcome to text me. I will save your number and text you the verses every day if you request it (928-206-7811). I live in Bacavi. If anyone would like to do a phone counseling session, or short Bible studies for encouragement, feel free to contact me in any way and we will set a time. www.bbctkd.com is my website.

Introduction Letter

 Hi,

My name is Andrew Magnarella, and I Pastor the Bethel Baptist Church in Hotevilla! I am starting a bi-weekly article on Biblical morals! Our young people, teenagers, marriages, communities are falling apart because there is no established right or wrong anymore. Most people live by the “if it feels good (and its not hurting anybody) then do it” philosophy, but the Bible has this to say about that: “Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”. You see we should live by principle and not feeling! Our feelings change constantly, but principle will never change! Our heart will tell us that something is good and right, whereas in all actuality it is wrong and will hurt those around us weather we know it or not. The easiest and one of the most familiar ways to describe this is drugs. They are enjoyable, They feel good, its not hurting anyone… but in all truth the good feeling you are getting, is the drugs having a stranglehold on you, depriving your brain from oxygen, and killing you! So it is the fingers of death around you that produces that good feeling.

The Bible says, “Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” So once we find something to be right we should not give it up for any price or pleasure! Please follow this article, and have a time where you sit down with your family and read it to them and discus it. My desire is to strengthen your homes, and your families by establishing principles to live by.

If you have any questions, or if you need spiritual counseling, please feel free to contact me at 928-206-7811, or avmags@gmail.com.

Your Word

The Moral for this printing is our WORD! There are a lot of morals we can start off with but which of them are as basic or as important as keeping our word? Whether it is Husband to Wife, Parents to children, children or teenagers to parents, Peers to Peers, or between Boss’s and Workers, if we do not keep our word then we have nothing! The Bible says, “James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” Sometimes when we want to tell someone that we really mean what we say, we declare several statements: I swear by the Bible, by my mother’s grave, by the sun that rises, etcetera… But the Bible says that our word should be so good that we should not have to swear by things. If you say that you will be there, then you should be there, or if you are going to do something then you should do it! Plain and simple. If you say something, unless you are in the hospital, deathly sick, or dead your word should be your bond! There used to be a day where for major business deals people just shook hands, and there was confidence that whatever was agreed upon would be fulfilled to the letter by each party! Are you an honest person? Do you keep your word? Can people look you and say when that person says something he will do it? If we don’t have our word, we don’t have anything!!

Please read these with your family. Brought to you by Bethel Baptist Church in Hoteville, Pastor Andy Magnarella. 928-206-7811, avmags@gmail.com

Adultery

The Bible says in Proverbs 6:32 “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.” 1Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” The Bible clearly states that adultery, and fornication is wrong! The definition of fornication is: harlotry (including adultery and incest). Not only is this morally wrong but the Bible says that if you commit these acts you are not only sinning against God but against yourself! Hollywood and the philosophy of the world has painted lust as love, and has most of the world convinced that premarital sex is a fun rollercoaster. Just find somebody who will ride it with you and when you are done just walk away and try it with someone else. What they fail to tell you is that sex is the binding of two people together. Not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well! Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Mathew 19:6 says “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” We see here that once two people have become one (Marriage – Sex), they are not supposed to be broken up again. When you have sex with several different people you are hurting yourself! You are permanently bonding with one person and then ripping yourself apart then doing it again! This leaves many emotional holes in your life that cannot be healed. Not only does this wound you greatly forever but it creates distrust in every relationship you will ever have, including the one you want to last forever! Adultery may be fun in the moment but you will be hurting yourself on the inside forever causing yourself much emotional pain, distress, and distrust in future relationships! God created sex and all the joys that go with it! But, He created it for marriage. One man and one woman together, till death do you part! This is God’s way for you to have happiness! Ladies and Men don’t get pressured into premarital sex. It will only hurt you more then you can imagine and the scars it causes can ruin what could be a perfect marriage later in your life! Not to mention the STD’s that can kill you or leave you childless…. Brought to you by Bethel Baptist Church, Hotevilla. BBCTKD.com, 928-206-7811

Drunkenness

Drunkenness is one of the worst addictions we have. Not only on the reservation but also in America! The Bible says in Proverbs 23:29-35, “Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.” The Bible says in Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Alcohol is deceiving! Many people think it is a status symbol, but all it does is mock you and kill you! In our first passage it says that alcohol brings woe, sorrow, and wounds without cause! Alcohol brings with it problems not solutions. Many people think if they drink alcohol their problems will go way. But when someone is drunk, their problems are ten times worse. All they do is cry or get angry and hit people. Alcohol does not make life better. Many people would still have their families if the money used for alcohol was used to provide for them; or if alcohol didn’t entice someone to commit adultery; or if it didn’t cause some one who loved their family to abuse their loved ones! No, alcoholism is not a disease, it is a curse and it is a curse that is killing you and your family! When will you do something about it? I have seen death by alcohol and you have seen death by it! Why do you still use the bottle? You hate yourself for it and yet give it to little children and damn their lives forever by addicting them to it! Please finally hate this sin, this wickedness and forsake it! Alcohol is not help, it is death in a bottle that will steal everything you love and hold dear, and in the end it will leave you dead in a gutter! Please let us at Bethel Baptist Church Help you! BBCTKD.com, 928-206-7811

How to get victory over Drunkenness and Addictions part 1

Let me start off this article by saying that the only way a man can have true victory over addictions, or any sin that plagues his life is by having Jesus Christ as your God and Savior! I do not believe we can conquer the flesh in the flesh but that we need Gods help. If you want to know about Jesus, please ask and I will be glad to tell you. Over the next few weeks I will give you several Biblical principles on how to have victory! For this series of articles we will bring out three main points from Psalms Chapter 1. If you wish to read the whole chapter, feel free to do so, as I will only be able to quote small portions.

1. Do not be around it! I know this is easy to say and hard to do, but do not be around what it is that you have a problem with. Let’s take alcohol for instance (it is easy to illustrate)… The Bible says in Proverbs 23:31-32 “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.”. It says don’t look at it! Just don’t be around it. If your family invites you over and alcohol is going to be there, don’t go. Don’t go to your friend’s house or your family’s house. You will never get the victory if you are around it! Let’s go a step further, don’t let it into your house, not only physically but visibly as well. In other words, don’t watch it on TV: if you are staring at it on TV for 1- 6hrs a day you are going to go out and drink. Don’t listen to it on the radio: if all you do listen to music about people getting drunk then you will go out and do the same. Watch what you put into your mind. The Bible says in Psalms 1:1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly”. If you are letting all these things get into your mind you are taking counsel from the ungodly. It is pushing you in a wrong direction. No matter what addiction you have the principle remains the same: do not be around it or you will fall. Control your environment. If you live in a place where you cannot control it, then change where you live.

Love, Love in truth part 1

Hi, and thank you for reading! I think we will begin a series on the attribute of love, and we might switch back and forth from it to something else sometimes… Everyone talks about love today: loving yourself and one another has become practically a religion, but most people do not understand what love actually is! For part 1 of this series we are going to talk about Love in truth.

The Bible talks about love quite a few times in Proverbs. Proverbs 28:23, “He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue. Pr 27:5 Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”. True love and friendship comes from telling one another the truth. It always used annoy me in college when a girl would get an ugly hair cut, all of the other girls would come by and tell her how cute it was, and go on and on about it. No one ever came up and said “That’s a horrible hair cut; you’d better not do that again.” I think that is many people’s outlook on life: always flattering each other thinking it shows love, but it doesn’t. The Bible says that faithful are the wounds of a friend. We need to be truthful to each other in a kind way. Not only in the superficial things as appearances, but also in our actions. For every action there is a consequence, and to keep our mouth shut when we see disaster ahead is the worst kind of sin there is. That is not love it is selfishness. You find more favor and respect with somebody if you are willing to rebuke them in love then if you are always flattering them.

The Bible says in, ” Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.”. A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it. In other words, if you always lie to someone, you actually hate them; you do not love them. Let me add this, if you see something and ignore it you are taking part in the same thing. To take no action is to side with liars and the flatterers. If you see someone walking towards a cliff with their head in the sky and you say nothing to warn them then you are guilty when they fall and destroy their lives. That is not love. So love in truth. Warn you’re children, family members, and friends about the consequences’ of their actions and decisions. Please sit down and read these with your families and talk about them. Brought to you by Bethel Baptist Church, Hotevilla. 928-206-7811, bbctkd.com

Love , Love in Discipline Part 2

A mentality has descended upon us in this day and age, that is wrong to discipline your children. And to show our love we must give them everything they want. This is actually opposite of the truth. It is not wrong to discipline your child. It is not even wrong to spank them correctly. By discipline I do not mean beating them with your hands all over their body till they get bruises (that is abuse not correction). The Bible says in Proverbs, ” Pr 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. 17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.”. The rod and reproof give wisdom! God gave you a blank slate when He gave you a child and it is up to you train the child in the way he should go. A child is naturally selfish, uncontrollable, and an overall sinner in every way. It is up to you to teach them morals, how treat their friends, neighbors, and elders, and how to be respectful. They will not learn this from R – rated movies, or rock music, but from loving correction with a rod and reproof. By a rod I do mean a stick on the bottom. With out it your child will have no wisdom. He will be a fool and act like a fool. In the end, as our other verse states, they will only bring you shame. You wonder why your kids act the way that they do. They do not listen and they do not respect you, and every time they go out it seems like they only bring shame home with them. It is because you are refusing to love them by correcting them. Your children need you to be their parents not their friend, or person that fulfills their every selfish desire while calling them angels. The Bible says in Proverbs, ” Pr 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Basically, if you do not correct you children you actually hate them, and if you love them you will correct them over and over again (betimes). Love is not shown in gifts and selfish desires, but in the willingness to correct and train a child. Your children (and teenagers) not only need correction, but they are actually asking for it in their own way. When you do not discipline your child, in their mind, they are thinking my parents’ do not love me, and they do not care about me. Correction shows you care. Gifts do not. I have asked many people which parent do you love the most (or seem most connected to)? You would be surprised that the answer is the one who cared enough to discipline them correctly. That stays with someone their whole life! Love in proper correction. Brought to you by Bethel Baptist Church, Hotevilla. 928-206-7811 bbctkd.com

Love, Part 3 Love in Rules

Boundaries are here to keep us from harm, not from having fun. I will simply introduce this article by saying you need boundaries for your children, families, friends, and relationships! Without out boundaries or rules you, or your family is destined to be hurt or destroyed. Here is an example of a boundary that is found in the Bible. In proverbs it says, “Pr 23:20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. 22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.”. This passage could be looked at a couple of different ways. The fist being, there goes that Bible ranting on alcohol again. Man, it just doesn’t want me to have any fun with my friends. Or, the second way, well if I drink and always eat a lot (gluttony), I will come to poverty and be clothed with rags. Well I don’t want to be poor, and I would rather not wear rags, so I will make a boundary or rule in my life and my families’ life that we will not drink alcohol. It won’t be allowed in the house. We won’t go to parties that are serving it. We will not hang out with people that drink alcohol. Because of this truth, we will set some rule for the house. (People are not as poor as they think they are, they just waste it all on way too much food and addictions, which robs them!)

I love the verse that says, “Buy the truth and sell it not.” Once you know something to be true set a rule for yourself and your family. Don’t change that rule for money, pleasure, the opinion of some person, or because your teenager fights you about it. If you do not have immoveable rules for yourself and your family you do not love them. In Jeremiah it says, “Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Basically the body wants what it shouldn’t have most of the time! We need to live our lives, and govern our families by principle, not by desire. How many times did your body want something really bad, and you indulged it, and it was the worst decision of your life, and it hurt your family greatly? If you love your family you will set rules for them, and give appropriate punishment when they are broken. Rules like who their friends can be, what TV they are allowed to watch, the music they are allowed to listen to, and the places they are allowed to go. Don’t forget the rules for yourself: no adultery, alcohol, gluttony ect.. Just because things are legal does not mean that it is good and wholesome for you or your family. Love them and live by rules or principle not feeling. Brought to you by Bethel Baptist Church. 928-206-7811, bbctkd.com

Stealing

Welcome back! This week we have another very basic principle, “Thou shalt not steal”. I would like to remind you to sit down with your family and read these articles and discus it with them. This will help strengthen your family. Have you ever heard of the Golden Rule? The old saying, “Treat others as you want to be treated?”

In the Bible, two commandments are given to man. In these commandments, God defines how He wants us to live. The first talks about our love to Him, and the second talks about how we treat our fellow man!

“Mr 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” So we should treat each other how we want to be treated! Do you want people to take your I-pod, cell-phone, ear buds, clothes, cash, vehicle? Do you want them to take what is yours and destroy it, abuse it, or sell it? No! None of us want that. We should not subject others to that violation! The Bible says simply, ” Le 19:11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.” More and more I here some one say that a student left their I-pod on the bleachers at school, and so and so picked it up and now has a new I-pod. How sad! These items should be returned or put in lost and found.

The though process behind thievery is unfounded! Most people steal to try to get ahead in life and most thefts are petty. If someone steals $1,000 and gets caught, they can spend months in jail. On the other hand if someone just faithfully worked a job for one month, they would have more then $1,000 and can spend it on whatever they want, honorably, and in clear conscience! Crime truly doesn’t pay, and is not worth ruining your name over! “Eph 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Stealing is wrong! Don’t steal! Honor your neighbor! Feel free to contact Bethel Baptist Church any time. 928-206-7811, bbctkd.com

The Harm of Bitterness

The message of this article is hard to accept. It’s hard to admit when we have problems with bitterness. This can occur for several reasons: lack of forgiveness, jealousy, envy, anger at God, and even covetousness. When we harbor bitterness it hurts ourselves and not the ones it pointed at! “Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” The Bible says that this is supposed to be put away from us! That means to get it out of our lives. It also says that this bitterness is not wisdom from above but it is devilish! “Jas 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

Did you know you can control what you think? “Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” The way to get rid of bitterness is very simply, yet very hard, just don’t think about it! We get bitter because when someone wrongs us, we keep thinking about it, meditating on it, and getting more angry until it poisons us! Next time it comes into your mind, push it out, think about something else, tell your self you are not angry or upset anymore, that it doesn’t matter, and forgive them! Instead of thinking over a hurt, be thankful for a Blessing! This is not only Biblical but it will improve your health, demeanor, and countenance! Do not hold on to bitterness. It only causes harm, mentally and physically! Again if you want personal help in any of these areas, or if you just want to know more about the Bible feel free to contact Bethel Baptist Church, Hotevilla… 928-206-7811, bbctkd.com

Forgiveness

Forgiveness, such a forgotten trait among people today! Previously we talked about getting rid of bitterness; but we cannot truly get rid of that unless we can forgive the person or being we have a grudge against. (I say being, because many people hate God (unjustly) for things that have happened in their life). There are a few different steps to forgiveness.

1. Approach the wrong doer – “Lu 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” The Bible says that if someone wrongs you to rebuke him. There is nothing wrong with telling someone they wronged you! Most of the time when we have a problem with someone it’s a miss understanding. There is no way we can work out that miss-understanding if we don’t bring up the subject. “Pr 28:23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flattereth with the tongue.” If we rebuke someone even though it is uncomfortable to do, we can actually gain a closer friend then ever before!

2. Don’t limit it – Above it says if some one comes to you several times in one day we are still to forgive. Don’t put a limit on your compassion! We are only human. We do and say stupid things without thinking. Be ready to forgive and renew a friend or family member, not cut them off.

3. Don’t think to highly of yourself – Most of the time we don’t want to forgive because our pride is hurt! We think we are something and how dare they do that to me! It is ok to humble yourself; say you are wrong, or that maybe you deserved what happened. Or you can just forget about the whole thing! Be humble.

4. Consider a Bible example – In Christianity we believe that God (Jesus) loved man so much, that even though man is a sinner (wronged the holiness of God) , He left heaven, came to earth to die on the cross, be buried, and rise again on the third day! It also says that while we were God’s enemy He died for us. So even though man wronged God himself, he paid our sin price to forgive us those wrong doings! If God can make a way to forgive a sinner like me, then I should be able to find it in my heart to forgive my fellow man!

Work

The Principle for this printing is Work! When God created a Perfect man and put Him on a Perfect earth and in a perfect garden he gave him a Job. That was to keep the garden in order. ” Ge 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” . The point here being that a perfect sinless man still had to work! Working is part of who we are as men. It may not be fun sometimes and it may be hard, but man can not be satisfied without it. Have you ever worked, put in a hard day labor, and at the end stretched out your arms and something inside you said I feel like a man today! With out work a man get depressed, discouraged and feels like His life is pointless. If you do not work regularly and you want to be satisfied as a man and you want to get rid of that depression you are having , then work hard and steadily!

The Bible also tells us that if we don’t work we shouldn’t eat! “2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” . “Pr 15:27b … but he that hateth gifts shall live.” . This is just simply saying that we should not expect anyone to supply things for us, but we should supply it ourselves. You see no one owes us anything. If we are old enough and healthy enough we should be man enough to work a Job and supply for our family not expecting anyone to do it for us.

In Conclusion we are to supposed to work at our Job to the best of our ability. When we do this it not only supplies our needs and the needs of our family, but it takes care of our emotional needs as men and brings satisfaction. Because we are designed to Work. How is your work ethic today? Again please sit down and read these to your family, and use this as a time to discus these subjects. From Bethel Baptist Church, Hotevilla, 928-206-7811, avmags@gmail.com.

Sodomy (Homosexuality)

I know this is a very delicate article, and I will do my best to present facts for your understanding without hurting you. Let me also start by saying that I do not hate the homosexuals. People have a preconceived idea that Christians hate and despise those who practice this, but true Christianity does not. People have been belligerent and I am sorry for that. What I am not sorry for is that it is a sin and against God. It is also against all basic moral principles, which is what these articles are about. Let me also state that I am just as willing to work with a homosexual/lesbian to help them have victory over their sin just as much as I am willing to help the thief, liar, adulterer, alcoholic, and everyone else. There are three points that I want to bring out for your consideration.

First of all it is not natural – The Bible says in Romans, “Ro 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Ro 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.”. One of the biggest lies you are told, is that you were born this way, do not deny yourself. But you were not born this way. God says that is not natural for man to desire a man, or for a woman to desire a woman. The natural and right thing is: one man and one woman for life in marriage! My heart actually breaks for you. Many were forced into this lifestyle because of molestation, or other events in their life that seemed to force them down this road. And when this happened they became confused because they liked it and started to wonder if they were born this way…. I do not know why this can be a fleshly pleasurable act, but it is not right and you were not born this way. God loves you no matter what you have done or gone through and He is still here to help you if you will let Him!

Secondly, God created marital relations so children would be born – The Bible says in Genesis, “Ge 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:”. Here God commands the first man and women to have children! It is one of the reasons God created sex. Man and man, and woman and woman, cannot have children naturally. So again we see that it is against creation, and against God. It is not natural.

Thirdly, it hurts you – “Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Simply put, sin brings death, no matter what kind of sin. Sodomy hurts you emotionally and physically and if you are to be honest, most of the time you hate yourself and are disgusted with yourself for doing it no matter how much of a front you put on. I read somewhere that the average lifespan of a homosexual is 45 years. That is almost half the life span of heterosexuals. The simple fact is the STD’s and other complications of fulfilling this lust bring death. It also ruins you emotionally and mentally. God does not make things morally wrong because he wants to punish us or for us to not have a good time. He does it because He cares about you and your physical well being! Let us at Bethel Baptist Church help you…. 928-206-7811 bbctkd.com