Grace or Grit

Does anyone perform when your church assembles?  If so, who is it? Every church should have the same performer every Sunday.   God.  God is the performer.  We worship Him. However, every assembly of the body does indeed include a production.  We strive (or should strive) to worship well and in so doing invite (and motivate) others to worship with us. This episode David is...

Are you confident that you have a clear, distinct, and accurate vision of who God really is and what He is trying to do in your life in 2020? There is no doubt about it, this year has been an incredibly unusual one (so far).  Yet, we know that God is on the throne and He is always more than willing to bless those who come to Him in faith and humility.  But are we actually working toward...

Are all strategies equal?  The mission of the church is to proclaim the good news of God's saving grace.  We are commanded to let the whole world know about Jesus.  But there are a variety of theories and experiments (concerning how to get it done) that individual churches have adopted.  Are some methods better than others? While there are other models to consider, on this epis...

Movies and songs have been published about this.  Jokes are told about it.  Books written. But I have lived it. I'm a preacher's kid.  And, yes - a church brat too. There are positives and negatives to this reality. Even in the Bible we have MANY examples (both good and bad) of PKs - minister's kids who did really well, or very poorly. On this week's episode Patrick and Dave are joi...

"I would rather burn out than rust out." Have you ever heard that statement before? Some retort, "Does it really matter how you get out? If you're out, you're out." But it does matter.  The idea of burning the candle at both ends certainly includes the concepts of intensity and productivity.  Contrariwise, rusting out (at least in this context) implies sitting; doing nothing; contributin...

Should you and I be looking for miracles today?  More specifically, should we be seeking for the spiritual gifts that give us power now to do miraculous things? The debate is called Cessationism vs. Continuationism, and while the terms might not be familiar you, the issue probably is. What about the gift of tongues?  Why can't we raise the dead today?  Or, can me?  Are healing...

Do you have soul?   Do you have spirit? Or, ARE you a soul WITH a spirit?  Or are these 2 things the same? 2nd Corinthians 7:1 reads, "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." WE must cleanse OURSELVES from the filthiness of our SPIRIT?  What in the world? In this episode David and Patrick are joined by David's fa...

What percentage of the children in our world today are being reared by good, honorable fathers? Maybe accurate data isn't even available to provide an answer to that question.  But, what we do know and can see is that while responsible fatherhood makes a huge positive difference in the life of a child, largely it is becoming increasingly rare.  And, the cost is great. On this episode Pat...

OK.  This one is a real controversy.  And right now, it matters. Can the church BE the church virtually; digitally?  Or, do we have to assemble physically; personally? Have we forsaken the assembly during the COVID-19 crisis, or are we just functioning in a different way? This discussion is a raw and raging one.  Patrick Reed & Luke Scallon gang up on me (Dave Talley) to tr...

What does God's work in Brooklyn, NY have to do with ministry in Hurlock, MD? Rural and urban ministries do have much in common.  But there are also some significant differences.  What are the unique difficulties and how do we overcome them? This week's discussion is not really controversial or debatable, but it is difficult.  It's hard to understand and sympathize with those who ha...

Everybody has something to say.  But some things that are said are just not helpful.  Many times what is said isn't even true. When it comes to racism and ethnic division, we need conversations that are constructive and honest.  Divisive and deceptive ones will do no good. In this episode, David and Patrick are joined by Rev. Tony Lawson in an attempt to take on a variety of is...

Do you like tulips?  How about TULIP?  T.U.L.I.P.  T - Total Depravity U - Unconditional Election L - Limited Atonement I - Irresistible Grace P - Perseverance of the Saints Who is responsible for my destiny?  Me; or God? Maybe the best summary is this one: "What's wrong is me, and what's right is Him." - John McArthur  If there is any question that deserves to be taken up...

How do we live a balanced life?   Job.  Family.  Church.  Community.  Health.  Fitness.  Hobbies.  Aaaaaa!  How should I prioritize things? One way of looking at life is by categorizing things as 1. sacred (or spiritual), 2. secular, or 3. sinful?  But is that legitimate? This discussion might NOT appear to be as controversial as some that we have...

It makes sense that we would be rather defensive about the Bible we read.  After all, it is the vehicle God uses to reveal Himself to us.  But throughout my life I have witnessed considerable tension resulting from the debate over which translation of the Bible is best for the English speaking world of today.  On the one hand, such sensitivity is appropriate.  It is Satan who l...

Jesus Himself warned that many of His supposed followers were insincere and would not make it into His kingdom.  This is sobering news.  It is an issue that deserves careful attention.  Am I & are you fake Christians, or are we the real thing? Join Patrick Reed and Dave Talley as they discuss the nature of repentance with Pastor Randall Blackmon of the First Baptist Fellowship i...

Of all the controversies that we could discuss, this one is an internal controversy.  It's an argument that I have with myself almost daily and a dilemma that I've struggled with throughout almost 20 years of pastoral work: what is the proper balance in ministry.  Specifically, how much time should a pastor spend studying, praying and preaching, and how much time should be spent in perso...

When it comes to sacred music, should we use the old hymnal & sing along with a piano, or do we build a band & sing the Christian songs from the radio?  Paul admonished us in Ephesians 5:19 to "...speak to yourselves in psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing & making melody in your heart to the Lord..."  But what does that look like in 2020?  Or what should it...

Would you rather be free or safe?  Galatians 5:13 reads like this, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”   Dave Talley & Patrick Reed host this pilot episode discussing the proper balance between freedom and safety in the life of a Christian.  Guest Barry Secrest adds his perspective a...