If you spend any time studying Church history, you will find that the Church of Jesus Christ has always been under attack. The enemy of the Church is Satan and his one, primary goal is to cause as much disruption, distortion, confusion and havoc to the Church as possible. When Jesus died on the cross, Satan actually thought he had gained a victory until, Jesus rose from the dead, Satan then realized his ultimate defeat. Because of this, he will stop at nothing, will not fail to use anyone or anything, to take as many people to hell with him as possible. Satan is the enemy and Christians have to step up and be a watchman. In Ezekiel 33, God tells Ezekiel to be a watchman for Israel and to announce when the enemy is bringing an attack. Ezekiel is told to warn Israel when they are in sin or warn them about their sin. “Son of man, give your people this message: ‘When I bring an army against a country, the people of that land choose one of their own to be a watchman. When the watchm… [more]

This morning I want to share with you the vision I am sharing with my own congregation at the Vineyard Church of Pine Haven. We are a small town church in a community of 500 in rural Wyoming. Our building will seat 100 people. Yet I believe that God is calling even us, a small church in a sparsely populated area to be a church without borders. A little over 2000 years ago, a small gathering of believers was given a commission to be the church without borders. In the book of Acts chapter 1 we see this commission. Acts 1:8 8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Now when we look at this passage we view it from the eyes of history. We see that they did actually become the church without borders but what we don't always see is what that commission must have looked like from their perspective. So this morning I just want to encourage all of you… [more]

Children are a blessing from the Lord. Remind yourself of that! LOL  Honestly, there is nothing like having children around your life. They bring a sense of joy and wonder that we sometimes forget about. So I pray that these Christian quotes about children will help you as you raise and nurture your kids. Featured Bible Quote About Children Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. 15 Christian Quotes About Nurturing And Raising Children A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect for anyone. Billy Graham Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. Chuck Swindoll Do you rush, push, shout and become generally unpleasant on Sunday mornings? Do you complain about church? Are you irregular in your attendance? Are you over-conscientious about matters that are not really important? Do you always criticize the pastor, the choir, the length… [more]

Recently I came across a video blog by Phil Strout talking about qualities found in successful leaders. In those videos I found some principles that I have always believed concerning vision. So I wanted to pass along to you those biblical insights about vision so you too can implement these principles in your life and ministry. The book of Proverbs states in chapter 29 this statement. Proverbs 29:18  18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: Now I could go on and on about how people need vision and that leaders need to instill vision but in all honesty most of the time it is not that people don't have vision but that they are not empowered to carry out their vision. So this article is about the biblical insights about vision that I have learned over the last 33 years of being a believer in Jesus. Insight #1 - Empower Others And You Will Be Empowered Early in my ministry I was very bad about getting a vision and then chasing after it only to realize that I was not l… [more]

  Heaven's Gate “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 22:8   If you only knew The treasures that await For you, My precious child, Behind Heaven’s gate.   If you could imagine The diamonds and the gems, The hills and mountains, The roses and blossoms,   The waterfalls and streams, The eternal Sunlight, The glory of the days, The absence of night,   The songs of birds, The lamb’s dance with the lion, The peace, the joy, the love Of Eternal Zion.   If you only knew, My child, you would not fear, For you would remember All your treasure is there.   So I ask you for a moment To come be with Me, Close your eyes right now, Envision eternity.   For there in Heaven Is your beautiful treasure, Sweeter than your dreams, Rich beyond … [more]

Q.  My husband and I have been married for four years and at times we’ve been extremely happy together. Now things are often tense between us. We flare up at each other over minor issues and then we both sulk for two days. Why is marriage so difficult?  What do you suggest? Marriage is a learning process. In a successful marriage we gradually learn who the other person is and they learn who we are. As with all learning, this is a difficult process at times; at times it is a delight. William James said that there are six personalities involved in every relationship: Who he thinks he is, who she thinks he is, and who he really is; and vice versa, who she thinks she is, who he thinks she is and who she really is. Couples need to sort out all of these personalities, real and imagined. This takes time and patience. Marriage can be the most difficult and frustrating relationship you’ve ever experienced as well as the most intimate, loving and secure relationship possible. The… [more]

This week at my church I won't be sharing a traditional Mother's Day sermon but instead will be sharing a message about the God who comforts as a mother who comforts her child. Often times we place upon God attributes that show severity and rigidness. However I would like to show you the God who is willing to comfort us as a mother comforts her child. So let me start by sharing with you a verse out of the book of Isaiah chapter 66 and verse 13. Listen To The Podcast Of Pastor Duke Sharing This Mother's Day Sermon Podcast Powered By Podbean     God Comforts Like A Mother Isaiah 66:13 I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.” Mothers are very special people. No one has more hopes, dreams, ambitions, and love for a child the way that a mother does. She watches over her child and hurts when they hurt. In my own life, my mother has been there to encourage and comfort me many times when life has thrown me a curveball.… [more]

When I was 17 years old, my mother died. In the short span of 17 years, my mother taught me many things about life but the most important thing she taught me was about Jesus. I would ask that you bear with me as I tell you what my mother taught me about Jesus. She taught me about His love for us, His patience for us and what He did for us on the cross. I was fortunate to have a mother who loved the Lord and passed on, not only to me, but to all my brothers and sisters, the many things we needed to know about Jesus. Many things which my mother taught me about Jesus were not conveyed by words but by the way she lived her life. She taught us about honesty, integrity, work ethic and how to love and respect each other. She took me to church and she taught me the importance of worship and prayer. My mother taught all of us the many ways of a Christian life, in word and living her life the way the Bible teaches. One of the earliest lessons I remember learning from her was how the Lord will… [more]

This list of Bible verses about the Holy Spirit is by no means a comprehensive list of verses on the Spirit of God. It is a list of verses that give an overview of the work and operation of the Holy Spirit throughout scriptures. In today's age of scripted church services and controlled environments little time if any is actually given to allow the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of the people. Recently, my first pastor, Jerry Cook was asked a question by a young pastor. He asked "What is the big deal about the Holy Spirit." After Jerry got over his shock and anger at such a flippant question, His response turned into a book. This list of Bible verses about the Holy Spirit is my attempt as well to help people understand that the 3rd person of the Trinity is God and as such is a "big deal". Featured Memory Verse On The Holy Spirit Luke 24:49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you wi… [more]

The Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood and the most dismissed member of the Trinity. Recently my first pastor, Jerry Cook had a conversation with a young pastor. In this conversation, the young pastor wondered what the “big deal” was. After Jerry got over his shock at the dismissiveness of the man's statement, he got angry. This led him to write a book which I will provide a link for at the end of this article. It is my hope that these Christian quotes about the Holy Spirit will help you understand what the "big deal" is about the Holy Spirit as well. Featured Bible Quote About The Holy Spirit Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 26 Powerful Christian Quotes About The Holy Spirit Wise leaders should have known that the human heart cannot exist in a vacuum. If Christians are forbidden to… [more]

Q. We have three children, ages 6, 8 and 10 and my wife works full time. The problem is she seems stressed out constantly even though I help her a great deal with the children and the chores. The children are affected by their mother's moods. When she’s out of sorts, the children are at their worst. What can we do to have a happier, calmer family life? A. Husbands need to understand the difficulty mother's have balancing family and work. They are often overwhelmed and tired. A mother’s moods set the tone for the family. This is because mothers usually have more responsibility for child rearing and a closer emotional tie to their children. In other words, it’s because mothers are so important to children. Mothers who work full time outside the home are faced with the formidable task of scrunching a full time job into the hours they are at home. The job at home is never done. There are always meals to prepare, laundry to be done, housecleaning needed,  and child care. Child … [more]

Walking by faith is something that at one time or another we all struggle with. We can be inspired by a great sermon or someone giving us a word of encouragement, but as soon as the emotions of that event face, we are faced with whether or not we will walk by faith and not by sight, or we will look around and say "it must not have been God afterall." This morning, I want to challenge you. Not because you are somehow missing it or a failure in your Christian life, but I want to challenge you to overcome. I want to challenge you to walk by faith and not by sight so let's look at the passage in the Bible that talks about walking by faith and not by sight. The Walk By Faith And Not By Sight Bible Verse 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. This verse is part of a dialogue Paul is having with the Corinthian church concerning what happens to people when they die. He is telling them that when a person departs their body, they are present with the Lord. Now they do n… [more]

According to 3 ambitious southern Christians, it will begin on June 20th in Plymouth, Massachusetts This nation has been through three large-scale Christian revivals, or "Great Awakenings"- where large numbers of our citizenry refocused their lives upon Christ and His Word.  The last true "Awakening" happened between 1850 and 1910, or over 100 years ago.  (Some scholars and theologians believe there was a 4th Awakening in the early 1970's, but most followers do not consider that a true "Great" Awakening.)  Given the continual problems in the United States, within a more secular society, are we overdue for another revival? "Yes," states Dan Zimmerle, one of the three Christian men who are spearheading the Plymouth efforts.  Dan, along with Phil Castillo and Robert Kilmarx, has spent considerable time, effort, and also some personal funds in trying to initiate a new 2013 America returning to God. Zimmerle and Castillo have a successful radio talk show called One Nation Unde… [more]

May 2nd was the National Day of Prayer and Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside CA. and evangelist for the Harvest Crusade was invited to deliver the prayer in Washington, DC. There was immediate reaction to his invitation from gay activist; they referred to him as an "anti-gay pastor." He refused to back away from the opportunity to present the gospel to the nation and pray for our country on the nations biggest stage. He didn't resist their attempts to have government officials remove him, he, instead made a stand for Jesus. It would have been easy for him or any other pastor to get caught up in a back and forth conversation about why he opposes this lifestyle and stand against them. But, instead, he choose to make it all about "making a stand for Jesus" and not a stand against a gay activist group. Of course, those opposing his belief, didn't go without throwing some fiery darts. This quote is from one of the leaders of one of these groups, "Pastor Laurie'… [more]

  Mother's Day Poem   “’Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:29-30   Graced with wisdom, Filled with love, Reflecting light Of heaven above,   Tender and kind, Compassionate and pure, With strong patience In all things to endure,   Quick to encourage, Happy to guide, Sweet with praise, Always by my side,   Such is my Mother, She is rich in beauty, Shining with Jesus For all to see.   For her I give thanks, For her I do pray, How I treasure her love, Every word she does say.   Lord God, thank You For Mothers You give, Sweetening the moments In lives we live.   This Mothers Day And every day too, I give thanks for my Mother, I give thanks to You.   So join me, my friends, Sisters and brothers, Let us celebrate The gifts… [more]

I am the first to admit that I am an imperfect leader. I am an imperfect church member. I am an imperfect man. There have been times in my life where I have done or allowed some pretty dumb things in my life. So when I talk about codependent tendencies between church leaders and church members, I am not trying to raise myself up on a pedestal by pointing out the flaws of other. I am trying to bring to light something that I have both wrestled with personally and seen operating within some churches in the hopes that by doing so, it will bring a greater degree of health and fruitfulness to leaders and church members. There is a difference between codependency and interdependency. The Bible teaches that we are to be interdependent upon one another. Unfortunately because we do not live in a perfect world and because of some of the baggage we carry around, interdependency is replaced with codependency. So let's look at the definition of codependency, look at ways it manifests itself betw… [more]

Jesus is not only the most quoted person in history but He is also the most talked about person in history. There are a myriad of Christian quotes about Jesus that have been notable throughout history. This list of quotes concerning Jesus is by no means exhaustive but they are some of my favorites. I hope that you will enjoy them as much as I have over the last 34 years. Featured Bible Quote About Jesus Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Christian Quotes About Who jesus Is Jesus Christ was God's revenue officer. Billy Sunday Death may be the King of terrors... but Jesus is the King of kings! D.L. Moody I follow Christ: Jesus is my God - Jesus is my Spouse - Jesus is my Life - Jesus is my only Love - Jesus is my All in All. Jesus is my Everything. Because of this I am never afraid. Mother Teresa Christ is the Word of God. It is not in certain texts written in the New Testament, valuable as they are; it is not in certain words which… [more]

Have you ever struggled with doubts and unbelief? Have you ever felt bad because had thoughts that something was impossible? Have you felt condemned because others told you that if you had doubts, God would not answer your prayer? I think we all have had at one time a struggle with unbelief and we have prayed the same prayer that the man who had a demon possessed son prayed in Mark 9:24 Listen To The Podcast Of Help My Unbelief Your browser does not support the audio element. Podcast Powered By Podbean   The "Help My Unbelief" Scripture Mark 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" The Christian faith is not a faith that goes by what we see or what we feel. It is a journey with Jesus Christ along the entire path of our life. It is a relationship not a formula and as such, struggling with unbelief is part of that journey and relationship. So let me try to encourage you today as you are … [more]

  Soaring in Spirit   “…but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31   Soaring so high, Flying so free, The vast world below Now I see,   Amidst the clouds, Close to the sun, In the arms Of the Eternal One,   Up with the birds, In soul-freeing flight, My heart beating With rhythmic delight,   This is how I feel, Pure, strong, free; This is how I feel Because You love me.   So my heart soars To the heavens it seems, Sweeter than sweetest Of all my dreams.   To You, my Jesus, My heart I give, For to fly toward heaven Is for You to live.   To new heights Each day You bring, My soul flies free, My heart does sing.   Blissful, beautiful, Divine, rich and true Is the love I feel Flowing from You.   So amidst… [more]

Q. I'm a senior in high school and I can’t believe my high school days are almost over. I have a close knit group of Christian friends and will miss them. I know many college students have little or no faith in God. What can I do to prepare for living in a secular environment? How can I stay Christian in college? A. Your question is an important one. Many Christian students lose their faith while in college. In fact, I lost my faith while in graduate school. I drifted away from God – I didn’t plan it; I just drifted away. I didn’t find a church nor did I join a Christian group on campus. Don’t let this happen to you. In order to stay Christian in college it’s essential you find a Christian group of friends on campus who share your faith. It’s also essential you find a church on campus and become involved there. You need other Christians and they need you. No matter how busy you are with your studies and other activities make your Christian connections a priority. Wi… [more]