The Truth Of The Matter Is

 When it comes to being encouraged or encouraging others, there are several different ways it happens. The !voices of those encouraging words can come from people you may or may not know. Some of these people are parents, friends, mentors, teammates, husbands, wives, pastors, teachers, public speakers motivators and strangers. I'm sure there are plenty of tactics and tricks you were told to i...

What drives a community into it's identity is culture and religion. This week on, "The Truth of the Matter is Podcast", Johnathan and Daniel have a deep historical conversation about the Ten Men with Leprosy. Through continuing with the Gospel of Luke series, learn how cultural and religious segregation existed during Jesus' day and still exists today. Lastly, there's an interesting dialogue about...

One of the ways to be appreciative is to say "thank you." When we say "thank you" we are being polite by acknowledging a possible gift, service, or compliment, from another. "Thank you" is a sign of a mannerism, which is a habitual gesture or way of speaking or behaving. We all were raised different based upon cultural differences however, there is still an idiosyncrasy, which is a mode of behavio...

Today on "The Truth of the Matter is" podcast, we reflect and briefly discuss the interview we conducted last week with Pastor Roy Dockery. What did we learn? How can we, as independent thinkers, use the information we heard. Today we also acknowledge Resurrection Sunday. What is the meaning of today for the believer? Additionally, we will continue with the Gospel of Luke series, as we take a deep...

"The Truth of the Matter is" podcast is all about providing an honest, contextual, and historicized view of the Bible through the use of hermeneutics, theology, and the personal experiences from brothers, Johnathan and Daniel. Today we add in a new voice, Pastor Roy Dockery. We hope that listeners will gain knowledge, open perspective, and new practical ways of applying Gods word to everyday life....

In part one, we discussed: If we claim to be in association with God, and if we tell people we have a relationship with God then it's our responsibility to remember that class, character, integrity, reliability, leadership, and kindness are important when it comes to our image. People are watching, and so is our heavenly Father. However, this week in part two, the focus is going to be on our inner...

When we hear a story or any stories for that matter, it can help us understand others and more importantly ourselves. We don't tend to feel sympathy after, but rather empathy with characters we encounter in stories. If you pin your ears back and actively listen you'll be surprised about your ability to learn from these stories. You will really unlock the skills that will help you throughout your o...

The reason for planning is to create a better outcome. It's a process of setting goals, outlining your tasks and developing strategies to accomplish your goals. It is the process of deciding in detail how to do something before you actually start to do it. With planning comes dreams and aspirations. We all know as humans beings we have needs, desires and ideas, and these things grow over time. In...

 Lost-and-found refers to something lost (by the owner) and something found (by a stranger). I believe however, that items aren't the only things which can be lost; people can be as well. Lost, is the inability to be found or recovered, unable to find one's way or ascertain one's whereabouts, confused, bewildered, or helpless. Now this might be the world's definition of lost, but there is but...

"Change is the only constant in life," whether that is you getting older every year, there being a nuance in perspective after an experience that has either affected you negatively or positively. The prices of gas, food, supplies going up or down depending on the market and its demand. Changes are happening regardless if you want them to or not. As we take a look at Luke 14:25-35, Jesus makes a re...

Has there ever been a moment in life where you've experienced something that left you puzzled, frustrated, angry, unsettled, regretful, and upon reflection you wanted a do-over? Many of us have and if you haven't guess what? There's still time, and all the more reason to give this conversation a listen. The reality is, experiences like that aren't meant for you to feel sorry for yourself, but inst...

When we think about the concept of strategic planning, we view it as a long term process. We see it as a collective road map that takes a long time to develop. There's usually a clear mission along with a vision and in that a timeline is created. Along these lines there's strategy implementation and of course program monitoring. You have benchmarks and objectives that will lead to informative prog...

On the Truth of the Matter is podcast, this week we intend to explain what the kingdom of God is. Additionally, the kingdom of heaven is interchangeable with the kingdom of God and the question becomes, is it just a place or much more than that? Luke 13:18-30 will be the text that gets unpacked. Let us not be quick to jump to conclusions that aren't sound and yet questionable. We will take you int...

Time and time again people have questioned God's existence, but more importantly his love for people and his love for his so called creation. Questions have come up such as: how could God love us if we have massive kills done to the innocent in the world? Rapist who take advantage of the defenseless and the weak. Where is this God and why won't he show himself? Why is he such a coward? The truth o...

Repentance has two meanings just like a coin has two sides. The way to repent is to ask Jesus Christ, our lord, for forgiveness. Right after this, we must make every effort to turn away from the very thing that had us come to the lord in the first place. Now, God understands that it's no easy task at first, which is why God is a God of process. As Johnathan and Daniel unpack Luke 13:1-9 We will le...

Some of us look at things from a bird's eyes view, while others elect to see things from a worm's-eye view. Life can be easy or it can be difficult. The beautiful thing about choices in life is that as individuals we get to make them. When we take a look at the modern time we're living in, the question becomes: Are we interpreting it correctly? As a matter of fact, when we take a look at different...

Johnathan reflects on two stories that occurred this week and upon one of those stories comes a mini message before prayer begins. Listen closely as he and Daniel dive in to discuss a numerous amount of things such as: What is the gospel? Do you know it? Are there certain elements missing in your answers? You don't want to miss it because you could add more to your own personal response. Jesus is...

A true leader does what is right whether people are watching or not. The desire to do what is right is rooted in a person's character and mentality to always put their best foot forward. The beauty of consistent preparedness is the discipline to establish a way of doing things that brings about regularity over time with a readiness mindset. Knowing the word of God takes time, effort, study, and a...

"The Truth of the Matter is" podcast says happy new year to all of our new and consistent listeners. We appreciate those who have decided to lend us your ears and give us a chance. As we move forward into 2022 there's a theme we want to leave you with and we hope that you attempt to apply it throughout the year. Remember our podcast is about providing an honest, contextual, and historicized view o...

Continuing from last week’s episode, we decided to provide more context regarding sin and what it is. In Genesis chapter three we see the disobedience of Adam and Eve. Exercising freedom of choice, It was one action that enabled sin to enter their nature. They were immediately stricken with a sense of shame and unfitness, which is why they hid from God’s presence. The harsh reality is that they we...

Humans are born in this world without knowing their identity, origin, purpose, and destiny. The secular view of the meaning of life says we should chase after love, wealth, happiness, self-development, wisdom, and influence. It's about flourishing in those types of purposes. However,  in the Bible it is John who informs us about the three types of temptations that all humans are subjected to;...

Vulnerability in any type of relationship is a lot to ask of someone. There's also a huge difference in standards between God and humanity. Allowing someone in your mind and space, so that they can fully get to know you is a risk. Giving someone access to your thoughts, feelings, challenges, and weaknesses is a scary thing because  there is a fear of being judged. I am sure that most of us ha...

As believers, it is important to closely evaluate ourselves each and everyday. One mistake that can be easily made is to fall in the error of self righteousness. Having a great relationship with God is amazing on a personal level. But one thing we can’t bypass is the behavior of making others around us feel inferior. We look no further then the Pharisees who practiced this type of self righteousne...

According to psychologists human beings have more than 6,000 thoughts per day. It is estimated that the average adult makes more than 35,000 decisions per day. 35,000. Your thought life can be affected by what you see, what you hear, and what you expose yourself to. We should not overlook what has the potential to inspire us in regards to our habits, choices, and motives. It is important to keep i...

The life of a believer requires one to be a light in a world full of darkness. Scripture says, "we must let our light shine before others, that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven." As Ambassadors for Christ, we must represent the truth and what comes with it: confrontation and pushback, which at times isn't pleasant. As believers, we must have a teachable heart; this aide...