Tag: Dr. Denison

Strategy to Influence the Current Culture

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized2 Comments

This information is from Dr. Denison’s article today.

A five-fold strategy for changing culture 

Evangelical Christians are not the only losers here. 

If we delegate cultural authority to an “enlightened few” who reject biblical morality, the culture is the loser. People deserve to know what God says about the issues we face. In fact, the more they ignore or reject biblical truth, the more they need to hear it. 

As a result, rather than accepting the “new consensus,” we need to redouble our efforts to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). To this end, let’s adopt the five-fold strategy employed by the Apostle Paul, the most effective cultural missionary in history:

  1. He wrote letters that were read across much of the Roman Empire (cf. 2 Peter 3:15–16). How can you use email, social media, media platforms, and websites to write biblical truth?
  2. He spoke in synagogues (cf. Acts 13:5) and the lecture hall of Tyrannus in Ephesus (Acts 19:9). He addressed the Areopagus in Athens (Acts 17:19–34), kings in Caesarea (Acts 26), and Christian elders in Miletus (Acts 20:17–35). How can you use YouTube and other means to speak biblical truth?
  3. He engaged personally with Athenians (Acts 17:16–18) and Pharisees (Acts 23:6), Gentiles (Acts 28:28–31) and Jews (Acts 18:1–5). How can you use your personal relationships to share biblical truth?
  4. He prayed fervently for those to whom he ministered (cf. Acts 20:36; Colossians 1:9–12). How can you intercede for people to follow biblical truth?
  5. He modeled his message by living out his faith in ways others could emulate (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1). How can you live for Jesus so fully that others will see the relevance of biblical truth for their lives?

You can read the entire article here: Dr. Denison July 17, 2020

Good lessons for those of us who believe in the truth of the Bible and want to continue to stand for it. God bless you with wisdom and influence that is God-centered!

Breaks My Heart

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized4 Comments

What breaks your heart? Is it the death of a loved one? Of course! How about the death of a stranger that the news reports in a thirty second segment? Maybe. How about the death of a stranger that is never reported on the news but is part of a list of statistics, not to be named, but dead nevertheless. Probably not. The answers to the questions that I provided are the answers that I found in my own heart. But, I want to have the heart of God. I want all of those who have died to have a relationship with the Lord so that they will spend eternity with Him. So, each loss of a person on earth who may or may not have died without the Lord is heartbreaking.

You know what just broke my heart this morning? First, I read the headlines in the local paper that two local schools are changing their names form Lee-Davis High School and Stonewall Jackson MIddle School. Why? Because the Cancel Culture wants to get rid of history. Then even worse. A lot worse! I read that churches are being set on fire throughout the United States. One church was over 200 years old. What is the meaning of this? This, folks, is the picture of a divided society and one that is breaking down. Instead of being united around one goal, to survive this pandemic and celebrate our freedom as Americans, we have become a divided nation. People march and chant, “Black Lives Matter.” Of course, they do, but don’t all lives matter to God? Isn’t all injustice the same in the eyes of our Creator? But if I dare to mention that on social media, that all lives matter or even that Blue Lives Matter, I am attacked in two minutes flat. Maybe even less. A young lady whose father was a policeman was killed and she posted online that Blue Lives Matter. That was her father, people! Her father! And she was attacked viciously with some of the foulest language possible. Now, I’m not saying racism doesn’t exist. I’m just saying that we live in a great nation in which we are all free today. Can’t we celebrate that instead of deliberately trying to create division? My heart breaks over the one year old who was shot and killed. And the community won’t even talk about who shot him. They are hiding the killer. The grandmother even said that BLM doesn’t care about his little life. Well, enough about my rant. Here is the article from Dr. Denison about fires in the churches.

Dr. Denison July 15, 2020

You may read this article and think to yourself that these are only buildings or only statues so it’s not a big thing. After all, the real church is its people. That is true. But don’t you think that God’s heart is hurt by this destruction? Just as His heart was broken when Babylon and other invaders destroyed and carried off the treasures of the Temple in Jerusalem, the place that He said He would dwell with His people. God allowed the destruction because of the sin of His people, but I can still imagine His heart breaking over it, and the senseless killing of His people Israel by the marauders.

Here is the song mentioned at the end of Denison’s article.

Hosanna by Hillsong

Here are the lyrics of the song:

Lyrics for Hosanna

I hope that each of you has a blessed day and that in your prayer time today, you take the time to pray for the things breaking God’s heart today: for the loss of life, for the divided nation and for the lawlessness that is never a part of God’s plan. Be blessed, my friends, because God sent His Son to make us free indeed!

This Is Not Our Home

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized14 Comments

Think about it. I mean, really think about it. This broken world that we live in is not our true home. We are only here for a little while and then we go to our true home, in Heaven, with our Father and all of our brothers and sisters in the Lord. In the meantime, here we are in this valley with so much sin and destruction and ungodly thinking all around us. I think sometimes that this is the worst that any generation has ever had it. Then I remember my history and the Crusades and the destruction and turmoil then. I recall the Inquisition and the deaths that were part of the desire to rout out all dissension from whatever the current belief was. No, we don’t have it so bad, do we? Yes, there is little acceptance of Christians and our beliefs these days. There is mocking from our friends, family and the media. But I remind myself and you that this is NOT our home. And since we were put on earth for a reason, we need to find that purpose and work at fulfilling it. Jesus knew His purpose, His destiny if you will, from His first moment on earth. We, however, need to seek our purpose. We need to find out why God put us here and then do our best to follow His plan for us. I’m not here at this time and in this place solely because of my choices. I am here because God wants me to be here. I could have died from a stroke five years ago. I lived. So, why? Because God was not finished with me here on earth yet. This world is a broken one, and we don’t belong here, but we have to do our work here before we can go home for the Great Dinner that God has prepared for us. I recall that when I was working, I worked hard at my school all day, from the moment I arrived until I locked my door and headed out to my car. I sighed with relief most days when my work was done and I could go home and sit and relax at dinner with my family. That’s how I see my life on earth now. I’m working for God and I haven’t finished my work; God is preparing a place at His dinner table for me, but He isn’t ready for me to come home yet. In the meantime, I know that there are two worlds and I long for my Heavenly home. At the same time, I also long to see my grandchildren grow up and establish their own relationship with the Lord. So, two worlds. While I wait, I will continue to be as good a witness as possible here on earth. I will state my beliefs clearly even when they are not acceptable or popular. I will not compromise my standards because I am basing them on Biblical principles as I understand them. Yes, I am a citizen of two worlds, and I am expected to be a good citizen of both.

I read an article by Dr. Denison this morning that inspired this post and made me think about life and all of its current corruption.

Dr. Denison “A Tale of Two Cities”

“Not of This World” by Petra

People Need to See Jesus in Us

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized5 Comments

I keep hearing people say that if we want change, we have to be the change that we want. I interpret that to mean that we need to be more like Jesus so that people can see Him in us. There is no greater need in the world today than the character of Jesus demonstrated in each of us. How do we react when the Supreme Court makes a ruling that makes abortions more likely? How do we react when someone tells us that they are gay or transgender? The topic of Dr. Denison’s main article today is just this, the idea that our reaction shows people Jesus, or it doesn’t.

What Our Cullture Needs Most by Dr. Denison

It is impossible for us to make disciples if we don’t show love. That was the central part of Jesus’s message and of His character.

I hope that each of you has a blessed day and remember that wherever you go, you are an ambassador for Christ.