A recent visit to the dentist confirmed what I had suspected for some time – I had a bad tooth that needed to come out.  Decay had developed beneath the porcelain crown.  The deterioration had even worked its way into the root structure of the tooth.  Everything was compromised.  It was beyond repair.  The only solution was to pull the tooth.  Ouch!

Tooth decay is one thing.  Truth decay is another.  Our society is experiencing the slow but steady deterioration that comes as a result of truth decay.  With the rejection of absolute truth, our culture is in a state of moral and civil free fall.   I don’t have to argue this point; the evidence is everywhere.

Like tooth decay that causes widespread deterioration, truth decay undermines the very foundations of society.  Psalm 11:3 presents the ensuing dilemma, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”  What can a Christian to do?  We can learn to exercise discernment.  How do we accomplish that?  We must have a thorough knowledge of the Bible and be filled with the Spirit of Truth.

Biblical discernment is the act of making a distinction, judging, or deciding through the process of examination or testing.  To practice discernment as a believer means we test or examine everything by the Word of God.  If the thing in question does not agree with Scripture then we toss it as an untruth (Isaiah 8:20).

Furthermore, as Spirit-filled believers we may exercise the spiritual gift of discerning of spirits.  This is the ability to know in your heart whether something is proceeding from the spirit of man, the spirit of Satan, or the Spirit of God (1 John 4:1).

Jesus said that the Last Days would be characterized by great deception.  It’s already begun.  As believers we can safely navigate these troubled waters by exercising discernment.  Know the Bible.  Be filled with the Spirit.  Do these things and the foundation of truth will remain strong in your life.

Pastor Todd Weston

Our family participated in the Fast-Cat 5K at Estero High School last Saturday.  It was the first 5K for Tori and I, the second for Sheri, and about the 100th for Paul David – the real runner in the family.  Nicholas and Jamie were excused for Levi duty!

It’s amazing how many spiritual connections there are with the Christian life and running.  The Bible describes the Christian life in terms of a race in such passages as Isaiah 40:31; 2 Corinthians 9:24; Galatians 5:7; Philippians 3:14; 2 Timothy 4:7; and Hebrews 12:1.

The spiritual lessons that came to mind as I ran last Saturday are too numerous to comment on here since I had a lot of time to think out there on the track – 33.29 minutes to be exact!  I will tell you that three phrases ran through my mind that day.  I even spoke them out loud as I ran.  Run the race.  Keep the pace.  See the face.

RUN THE RACE!  I was determined to run and keep on running.  I didn’t start to quit.  I started to finish.  Many people start the Christian life but get side-tracked or discouraged along the way.  Like the Galatians, they run well for a while only to drop out of the race (Galatians 5:7).  As a believer, run in such a way that you can finish (2 Timothy 4:7) and obtain the prize (2 Corinthians 9:24).

KEEP THE PACE!  For the first mile I tried to keep pace with those around me.  I tried to run their race.  It quickly became obvious that wasn’t going to work.  If I continued to run at the same pace of others I might not finish my race.  So I found my own pace and kept it to the end.  Don’t try to be something or someone you’re not.  Don’t fall into the trap of comparing yourself with others.  Learn to be the person God created you to be and run at the pace designed for you.    

SEE THE FACE!  This is possibly the most important of the three phrases.  You have to keep your eyes on the prize.  Every time I could catch a glimpse of the finish line I locked in on it like radar.  I reminded myself, “I’m not running from something, I’m running to something!”  Running from will carry you only so far.  The real motivation is having a worthy goal to run toward.  In the Christian life the goal is Jesus, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

One final thought.  I cannot tell you how much the encouragement of others helped Tori and I run and finish our first 5K.  We do not run the Christian race alone.  To attempt to do so is a tragic mistake.  We need the strength and encouragement that comes from the family of God.  So stay connected to the family.  Be encouraged yourself, and become an encourager of others.  

Run well!

Pastor Todd Weston   

Levi Todd Weston made his grand entrance into the world at 12:01pm Sunday, August 10th.  I had just concluded the second service when Sheri walked onto the platform showing me the text from our son Nicholas saying, “HE IS HERE!”  All of you veteran grandparents know the thrill Sheri and I experienced as we held our new grandson for the very first time – a moment we will never forget!

As I looked at Levi’s tiny but perfectly formed features I thought of the words of David, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).  The next verse in the psalm utilizes the phrase “skillfully wrought” in describing God’s creative activity that takes place within the womb.  Human life is not the byproduct of biological chance, but of creative genius.

David’s statement in v16 is notable, “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”  That verse alone is a deathblow to the twin evils of evolution and abortion.  It states the value God puts on human life, even as embryos.  It tells us that God Himself oversees every stage of the developmental process in the womb.  Additionally, God’s oversight doesn’t end at birth for He has mapped out our days from beginning to end. 

As I hold my new grandson I realize he is literally the handiwork of the Creator.  I know Levi is a gift from God full of potential and purpose.  I also know that he will be raised in a Christian home surrounded by family and friends who will make godly investments in his life that will yield eternal dividends.  

So, welcome to our world Levi Todd Weston.  You are a gift from God.  In return, may your life be a gift to God as all of your days are lived for His glory.

Pastor Todd Weston

We hear them all the time.  I’m talking about self-contradictory phrases.  Need a few examples?  Consider these –

1. Small crowd
2. Exact estimate
3. Original copies
4. Pretty ugly
5. Fully empty
6. Act naturally
7. Only choice
8. Seriously funny
9. Clearly misunderstood
10. Found missing

Here is another self-contradictory phrase – Cussing Christians.

What has happened to Christianity in America?  Why do so many professing believers in Jesus Christ feel the need to insert profanity into their daily vocabulary?  I’m talking about Christians who will sing like a saint on Sunday and swear like a sailor on Monday.  Why do we stoop so low when according to the Bible we are to be a virtuous people, not a vulgar people?

In the old days kids caught swearing would have their mouths washed out with soap.  Yuk!  In the Bible God used a hot coal from the altar (Isaiah 6:6-7).  Ouch!  The idea is that bad speech indicates the need for repentance and cleansing.  The use of profanity isn’t just bad manners; it’s sin.

Paul gave this direct command in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth.”  Along with swearing, that prohibition includes lying, gossiping, slander, and all manner of evil speaking (Ephesians 4:25,31).

Don’t be a living contradiction whose occasional outbursts of profanity run diametrically opposed to previous professions of faith.  Instead, adopt the prayer of Psalm 14:19.  Pray it.  Mean it.  Live it.  “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.”

Pastor Todd Weston