American Football Origins and Early Development

American football has evolved over more than a century. What we know as American football can be traced back to the late 1880s. The first intercollegiate football game occurred between Rutgers and Princeton on November 6, 1869. Football of that time actually was a combination between soccer and rugby.

Walter Camp introduced significant rule changes in the 1880s that included: establishment of the line of scrimmage, the systems of downs, and the concept of a set number of players per side.

The Rise of College and Professional Football

College football became very popular across the United States during the early 1900s. However, during the rise of football, there was a lack of safety initiatives. This led to President Theodore Roosevelt to push for reforms. His influence led to the formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States in 1906. This organization was later renamed as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The first professional football player was William “Pudge” Heffelfinger who was paid $500 on November 12, 1892, playing for the Allegheny Athletic Association.

In 1920 the American Professional Football Association (APFA) was developed, and renamed the National Football League (NFL) IN 1922.

Significant Innovations of American Football

The NFL introduced a structured schedule and a championship game that eventually became what we recognize now. The NFL also introduced the forward pass rule that added to the excitement and unpredictability of the game.

The NFL and American Football League (AFL) merged in 1966 (the full merger of the AFL-NFL was completed in 1970), leading to the first AFL-NFL World Championship game in 1967, now known as the Super Bowl. This inaugural game was played between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers won with a 35-10 score.

The Vince Lombardi Trophy is awarded to the Super Bowl champion. This trophy honors the legendary Green Bay Packers and their coach who led his team to victories in the first two Super Bowls.

Football governance continues to negotiate technological advancement and rule changes to advance player safety.

Notable Dynasties

• 1970s: The Pittsburgh Steelers won four Super Bowls in six years (1975, 1976, 1979, 1980), and gained the title “Steel Curtain.”
• 1980s: The San Francisco 49ers, under quarterback Joe Montana, won four titles (1982, 1985, 1989, 1990).
• 1990s: The Dallas Cowboys secured three championships in four years (1993, 1994, 1996).
• 2000s: The New England Patriots, led by quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick won three Super Bowls in four years (2002, 2004, 2005) and continued with additional titles in 2015, 2017, and 2019.
• 2020s: The Kansas City Chiefs have rallied and been a formidable force winning Super Bowls in 2020, 2023, and 2024.

Super Bowl LIX 2025

February 9, 2025

The clash between the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs is a continuing battle for team dominance in the 2000s.

However, the battle between the top two American football teams is now history. The Kansas City Chiefs, while fighting to stay alive, did not accomplish winning three Super Bowls in a row. The Philadelphia Eagles add another win to their 2000 Dynasty with a 40 point win over the Kansas City Chiefs’ 22 points.

Share with us your reflections on American football and the amount of focus that is given to this sport and how football has been or not been part of your family’s heritage.

The post Football: The Other American Pastime appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

I will extol the Lord at all times;
    his praise will always be on my lips.

Psalm 34:1

Read 2 Chronicles 20

When trouble arises, is our first reflex to look to God, to worship and praise Him before anything else? If we are honest, our tendency is to make plans first on how to “fix” the problem or take action. But how often do we worship and praise God before He has answered our prayers?

King Jehoshaphat did! Before facing the enemy, he appointed singers to the front of the army headed for battle; to “sing to the Lord and to praise him” (v. 21). Any reasonable person would say this is a foolish strategy. Why did this leader do that? Earlier in the chapter, we see that Jehoshaphat’s first response to trouble, like so many of the righteous in Scripture, was to humble himself and pray. He was “alarmed” and “resolved to inquire of the Lord” (v. 3). His private prayer then led to a public one before the assembly in the temple courtyard. Here we read the prayer of a man who acknowledged that true power does not come from within us but from the One who our eyes look to (v. 12).

Only then did Jehoshaphat exhort his people to action: “take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you” (v. 17). In other words, be faithful in what God has given you and be steadfast; knowing that the victory has been won. Is it possible to have a bad day if we truly live like this?! Even in uncertainty, they continued to worship and praise the Lord and build one another up for the battle ahead (vv. 18–20), with the choir/worship team leading praise at the head of the army. While it is easy to praise after answered prayer, may we extol the Lord at all times, for “his praise will always be on my lips” (Ps. 34:1).

Go Deeper

When a crisis arrives, what is your natural response? What do we learn from Jehoshaphat’s example? What do you need to bring before the Lord today?

Pray With Us

God, we are grateful for the wonderful examples of the heroes of faith You have given to us! May we be inspired by their faithfulness! Give us endurance to join them and in one voice glorify You.

This Devotional is from Sing to the Lord: Music in the Bible written by author Dr. Brian Lee

Find more edifying, Christ-centered devotionals and other great resources at www.todayintheword.org

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This Week’s Bold Step

Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations in the world with its origins being over 5000 years old. The relationship between sheep and their shepherd is very special and unique as it is one of complete dependence and trust. Since sheep have little strength to defend themselves against predators, they rely completely on their shepherd to protect them. They worry little about the direction they’re traveling in or their daily food intake because they trust the leadership of their shepherd. In the ancient Near East, the care of a shepherd to his flock was a common metaphor for the leadership of people, especially kingship such as the shepherd king of Israel, David.

Few Old Testament characters have had as much impact on the Christian faith with his humble beginnings. When we first encounter David, he’s out tending to his father’s flock of sheep in the fields of Bethlehem. Though he was the youngest of his brothers and not included in the special sacrifice arranged by the prophet Samuel, he was the one God had chosen to be anointed king and shepherd a different flock, His people Israel.

What a profound moment for David! He wasn’t in the bloodline of Israel’s first king, Saul. He wasn’t rich in class or status. He was the youngest son. He was a lowly shepherd. One would think that he would have become king right then and there but surprisingly, he returns to being a shepherd like nothing happened. But something did happen that day which I Samuel 16:13 records, “The Spirit of the Lord took control of David from that day forward.” Though it would be another 15 years before David would reign as king, God would teach and prepare David during that season of waiting. It wasn’t a waste of time. Much of what David learned in that season, he applied as a leader of men.

Friend, be encouraged if you’re in a season of waiting. Like David, there is often a period of time between your calling and where you are today. I’ve learned that whatever you’re doing right at this moment is what God has called you to right now. Waiting isn’t meant to be a frustration but an invitation to be obedient and trust the good shepherd for His good timing. Ask yourself, are you allowing this time to be fruitful or frustrating?

This devotional was written by Pastor Mark Jobe and used with permission from Moody Radio.

To learn more and to access other amazing resources please visit http://www.boldstepsradio.org/

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Every year as I am putting away my Christmas decorations, I think about getting rid of some of them. I have limited storage space, so it just makes sense to clear out some of the ornaments that are no longer in great shape or the garland I don’t use much anymore. But I rarely do. I have all kinds of reasons why. Maybe a relative gave it to me, maybe I’ll use it next year, maybe . . .

It isn’t just Christmas decorations. I think many of us have a lot of “extra” around our homes. Whether it is books, craft supplies, some sort of knick-knack collection, or clothes that no longer fit, we have stuff in our homes, sometimes a lot of stuff, that is hard for us to part with.

That is why there is a concept called “Swedish Death Cleaning.” Apparently, it was trending last year (there is even a reality TV show about it), but I just recently heard of it. A few years before, the Marie Kondo method of decluttering sparked interest with her advice to choose to keep only what “sparks joy.” Swedish death cleaning is a little different.

What is Swedish Death Cleaning and How Can It Help You?

The term comes from the book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnussen. While there are personal benefits to living without a lot of clutter (many people report feeling less stress and more focus and control when their surroundings are clear), Magnussen promotes getting rid of our possessions for the sake of our families. Maybe not when we are young and starting out, but when we are approaching middle age or beyond, when we are starting to wonder about our later years, is a good time to begin thinking about all we have accumulated.

Many of us believe that the stuff we value and hold dear will automatically be valued by others – but most likely the things we hold onto and fill our homes with will end up out front in a yard sale. Our collections, our letters, our stuff, is ours and means more to us than it could ever to someone else, and Magnussen asks us not to burden our family with possibly months of sorting and deciding. Leaving it all for our family to deal with also takes the power away from us to determine where our belongings will actually go.

The author encourages us. She says the process is not sad – it can be a good thing to remember why each item holds special memories for us, and she also gives concrete tips, such as starting with the largest objects, like furniture, and objects that hold little emotion

first. It is not meant to be a speedy process. Even Magnussen took almost a year to go through her belongings. It isn’t so much about throwing things away as it is about deciding what truly matters.

Living with Intention

I think you will find much of Magnussen’s advice to be helpful, but let me encourage you with one additional tip: while you sort through your belongings, with your death in mind, to determine what is most important, give some serious thought not only to what you do with your stuff but also what you do with your time. Whether we are around for one more year or fifty, what we do with our time, our lives, is what truly matters.

Preparing for our death can bring clarity to our lives. Death “living” helps us ask and answer if what we are doing right now specifically in this moment and with our lives in general is important. Is it worthwhile? Is it pleasing to God and helpful for others? Is this the best way to make our lives count for something?

Reading the Swedish death cleaning book helped me know how to deal with my clutter, but the whole idea made my wonder about my time. I hope it is helpful for you too.

The post Swedish Death Cleaning – and Living appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

Guess what? 2025, it is here and God has been here waiting for us to arrive!

God is never caught off-guard of where we are or in what condition we find ourselves. Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,” says the LORD, “plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

The context of the story surrounding Jeremiah and this message can apply to us as we may see our current situation(s) impossible and hopeless. The time period is after the Israelites had been captured and taken into Babylonian captivity under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar. The Israelites were in captivity for 70 years when Jeremiah’s message came to them. Jeremiah was part of those remaining in Jerusalem and he was sending a message to those in captivity. The ruling class of Jerusalem was unhappy with Jeremiah, and sending this message placed Jeremiah in grave danger.

Jeremiah was sending a message of hope to the captives. Jeremiah earlier in the same chapter stated (vs 5-7):

“Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters, multiply there and not decrease [in number]. Seek peace and well-being for the city where I have sent you into exile, and say to the LORD on its behalf, for in its peace (well-being) you will have peace.”

God is standing in our present with open arms declaring to us, “I’ve been waiting for you to arrive.” God has love to lavish on us because we are His children. He has gifts to offer us through that love. Just as Jeremiah told the people in exile, God has “plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope,” God today is aware of our current condition and circumstances. Our grandmothers in the driveway knew our condition and loved us just the way we were. They were still overjoyed to have us come into their presence. The question is, “Will we stay in the car?”

What does it look like to get out of “the car” and into the presence of God? The first step is admitting we have an estranged relationship with God. While many of us may have gone to church as kids, we have not walked in a close loving relationship with God our Father and Creator. Secondly, we need to ask God for forgiveness, and ask Him to come into our lives as the savior and director of our lives.

Finally, as we get out of “the car” we need to run into the arms of Jesus and begin to read our Bibles and fellowship with other believers so we can get to know the true LOVE NATURE of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

If you have additional questions of what this really means or how to begin this relationship with God, give us a call at (937) 424-1640. We’d love to talk to you about it!

The post God Has Been Waiting For Us appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

This Week’s Bold Step

Clogged pipes in your home can really be a headache for a homeowner. Whether it’s a sink, toilet, or bathtub, all of these lines can gradually clog over time as debris accumulates, making it harder and harder for waste to move through. If not identified and addressed in the early stages, you could end up with sewage water backing up into your house. I speak from experience!

Unconfessed sin is a lot like that clogged pipe. Its tentacles can wrap around every part of our being and can often leave us feeling paralyzed if we’re not careful. The effects are often devastating from developing a wrong spirit towards God to feeling separated and isolated from community to losing the joy of our salvation. If left unchecked, unconfessed sin blocks our healing in other areas of our lives, leaving us hopeless.

In Psalm 51, we see David wrestling with the weight of his sin of adultery and murder. His anguish is palpable as he confesses his sins to God, holding nothing back. We see that he doesn’t blame anyone else but himself making no attempt to excuse his actions. David knew that his sin had separated him from God, so the only appropriate response was a humble and contrite appealing to Him to extend His mercy, love and forgiveness.

Like a pipe that’s been unclogged, there’s a hunger when your heart is repentant. The weight of sin is gone, replaced by joy and freedom like no other. You’re no longer a slave to sin! My friend, true repentance doesn’t merely alleviate guilt but cultivates a deep joy in your life. Might today be that day?

This devotional was written by Pastor Mark Jobe and used with permission from Moody Radio.

To learn more and to access other amazing resources please visit http://www.boldstepsradio.org/

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By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

Hebrews 11:30

Read Joshua 6:1–21

What is your favorite day of the week? Studies show that Friday and Saturday are the favorite days for most. But how many of us would say Sunday?

In Joshua and the battle of Jericho, a story that some Christians have known since Sunday School, we get a glimpse of how a particular day can be the most jubilant day of a week; filled with music, trumpets, shouts, and victory. But before that joyous moment when the walls came down, we observe that the people of God fully obeyed each of His commands for six full days.

They were to march around Jericho each day with all the armed men (v. 3) and seven priests carrying trumpets in front of the ark of the covenant (v. 4). There were further instructions given by God through Joshua for the people. They were not to give a war cry or raise their voices; not to say a word until they were told which day to shout (v. 10).

What a picture of faith and daily obedience to the Lord! It was faith in the Lord that brought down the walls of Jericho (Heb. 11:30). From morning to night (vv. 11–12), the people had to trust in God’s Word before the outcome, knowing that the Lord had something greater in store for the final day. Indeed, God had something greater. On the seventh day, the Israelites saw victory through Joshua (Yeshua) over the enemy in Jericho in the Promised Land.

We too have something greater in our future! That’s why gathering with God’s faithful people on the Lord’s day can be the most exciting day of the week. It is filled with jubilant worship as we remind ourselves of the victory we have in and through Jesus (Yeshua).

Go Deeper

What do you think went through the minds of the Israelites as they followed God’s puzzling instructions?  How does being mindful of our future hope (Heb. 4:9) influence the way we walk in obedience today?

Pray With Us

Lord Jesus, thank You for the freedom we have to come together with fellow believers in our churches. Thank You for the joy of joining Your people on earth and all the company of heaven in the unending hymn.

This Devotional is from Sing to the Lord: Music in the Bible written by author Dr. Brian Lee

Find more edifying, Christ-centered devotionals and other great resources at www.todayintheword.org

The post The Music Of Jericho | Today In The Word appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

I figure I’m doing a good thing. We’re familiar with the verse in Proverbs that says a merry heart does good, like medicine. And you know that’s true. We distract children from the pain of a shot or a scraped knee with a funny face or a silly song, and even as adults, when someone or something makes us laugh, we momentarily forget our troubles and worries.

But according to the Mayo Clinic, laughter can literally help heal your body. Laughing forces more air into your lungs so more oxygen goes into your body. It increases the endorphins released from your brain. These not only make you feel good, but they affect your cardiovascular system, decreasing your blood pressure and heart rate and improving your circulation. Long term, laughter fights the effects of stress on your body and can improve your immune system, relieve pain, improve your mood, and even help you lose weight.

God didn’t have to create us with a sense of humor, but He did, simply for our enjoyment and health. We have times of joy and laughter now, but there are several passages in the Bible that speak of laughter in the future, when our hearts and bodies are free of pain and worry and we have full freedom and joy in the Lord. That seems almost unreal now because of the world we live in, but the moments of joy and laughter we experience here give us another glimpse into the world to come.

One more thing laughter does is encourage connection with others. Almost everyone likes to hear a joke. Telling one is an easy way to make difficult situations a little easier or break barriers and forge the beginning of a relationship with a coworker or someone you regularly encounter. They might laugh at your joke now, but, through you, may eventually come to know the joy that lasts forever.

So where do bad rainbows go? To prism. But it’s a light sentence and gives them time to reflect.

The post Where Do Bad Rainbows Go? appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

Definitions

• a coming into place, view, or being; arrival
• the coming of Christ into the world
• the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas
• second coming

Synonyms

• Arrival
• Coming
• Onset
• Appearance
• Approach
• Entrance
• Incoming

Often advent is relegated to the “religious” realm. But, we always have advent occurring in our lives. Anticipation of births, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, retirement, and many other events.

Israel was in advent waiting for the Messiah. There was 400 years of silence. Advent implies hope or expectation or an arrival of a joyous occasion.

We are often waiting, “adventing” for some distant event or opportunity, when God wants us to advent (anticipate) His presence today. Lamentations 3:22-23 declares, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your [God’s] faithfulness.” Do we have that daily anticipation of meeting with God in a scheduled quiet time? We anticipate seeing friends and family, why do we not have the same anticipation to meet with God?

Do we anticipate seeing God demonstrate His realness in our daily lives by a “God wink?” The times you whisper or think of a need, and the solution appears…those are God winks. The sound of laughter or a beautiful sunset is a God wink. Are we “adventing” the answers to long held prayers of healing or salvation for loved ones, or have we given up anticipating an answer?

I’d say, our daily routines distract us from anticipating good things to happen in our lives. Often the world as it is makes us callus and cynical.

The antidote is daily washing ourselves in God’s word and EXPECTING (adventing, anticipating) His fresh response. A song from my childhood that has stuck with me these many years encourages me to anticipate God’s daily presence and His move on my behalf.

Don’t let advent only come once a year before Christmas. Begin a tradition of advent for each and every day. Establish a desire and anticipation to experience the fullness of God, right here, right now, and not in some distant future that lessens our joy and hope of His present reality.

The post Advent All Year Long appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

We as Christians need to begin to see that God does not leave us hanging out to dry in an effort to test us and see if we will make wise decisions to better our lot in life. The wisest choice is to “seek God and His righteousness, and all the things we need will be added unto us” (Matthew 6:33). These “things” don’t have to be material items that can sidetrack us from the true needs within our lives.

Our true needs that might send us over the edge of despair are our needs for safety, health, and peace of mind. The Bible is FULL of encouragement to lead us to the source of hope, as well as the power to provide us with what we need.

Psalm 91 is a vivid picture of God’s provision of hope through many dangers. God rescues us from the snare of the fowler. God protects us under His wings. God fights our enemies. God provides energy for us to keep going forward. All of this provision is because of our trust and dwelling in His presence; not our own efforts.

We need to have a mind shift to trust in God, the unseen, more than we trust in the seen. So many say that is foolish. But Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the mighty things.”

The many Bible stories and Bible verses we have learned over our lifetime, need to now be put into demonstrated power actions that reveal we have our faith in God who is our rock and fortress (Psalm 18:2), and not in the temporal things of this Earth…even though God will provide things we need…homes, jobs, transportation, food, etc. “Some trust in chariots, some in horses, but I trust in the Lord my God” (Psalm 20:7).

That kind of abandoned faith causes us to say, as the words of the song, “I Surrender All.”

Surrendering to God restores us with His authority and power living in us as “Christ the Hope of Glory” (Colossians 1:27). His power moves mountains (obstacles). His power is creative and demonstrated throughout the Bible with examples of providing out of nothing: manna, quail, and water. His power demonstrated the parting of the Red Sea and everyone crossing over on dry ground while moments later drowning Pharaoh and his army. In the New Testament, Paul was saved from death: shipwreck, beating, and snake bite. God says, “Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). We say God is the same yesterday, today, and forever…therefore we should have that God kind of faith to believe He will use His power to provide us hope. Hope in His love that was so strong, He gave His only son so that we would be brought into His family to dwell (John 3:16).

As we become part of His family, we need to move away from the idea of doing life on our own efforts to the realization that “I can’t do it myself.” We MUST live only through God’s power moving in and through us. That is when we become the Kings and Priests God intended to step out in His Name to do great exploits (Daniel 11:32) to win the lost and to disciple the nations toward His Glory covering the Earth as the water covers the sea (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Habakkuk 2:14).

The post Powerless Does Not Mean Hopeless appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

This Week’s Bold Step

One of the most powerful passages in the Bible that exhibits the power of repentance is Psalms 51. Here we have a snapshot of a pivotal moment in the life of King David as he’s going through the process of not just being sorry but being truly repentant for his wrongdoing. There’s a big difference between the two- remorse and repentance- and people confuse them all the time. Do you know the difference?

Suppose you’re driving down the highway and get pulled over by the state police. Most of us are immediately remorseful because we got caught for breaking the speed limit but that’s not real repentance. True repentance is being sorry enough to stop what you’re doing and change your behavior which, in this case, would mean driving the speed limit whenever you’re behind the wheel for the foreseeable future.

Repentance and being sorry are not synonymous. They may look the same at first but after a time, the blame game reveals a person’s true heart. When we’ve wronged someone, repentance means we acknowledge that we’re the victimizer, not the victim. We then take steps to change the way we think about the wrong we did.

Conversely, people who are “sorry” ask for forgiveness for their own sake hoping to regain their position with that person or even their blemished reputation. The stakes are high when it comes to true repentance.

There are three key markers of repentance that we can glean from David’s confession:

1. Repentance requires a humble confession instead of defensive excuses.
2. Repentance involves personal responsibility instead of dodgy blame-shifting.
3. Repentance requires deep, honest cleaning instead of cheap relief.

Friend, anyone can feel sorry for what they’ve done but when we make a 180-degree U turn from our sinful ways and seek forgiveness from God, that’s the benchmark for a true Christ follower.

This devotional was written by Pastor Mark Jobe and used with permission from Moody Radio.

To learn more and to access other amazing resources please visit http://www.boldstepsradio.org/

The post Remorse or Repentance? | Bold Stepper Weekly appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

The morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy.

Job 38:7

Read Job 38:1–7

Music is often linked with our emotions. But the word music calls us to use our minds. It comes from the Greek mousa where we get the term “muse”, to meditate, think carefully and thoroughly. As Christians, this also means to think biblically. Not doing so would lead to music being merely for our amusement, and that negates the very meaning of the word. As Paul said, “I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding” (1 Cor. 14:15).

In Job 38, God spoke to Job out of a storm, asking, “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge,” and “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand” (vv. 2, 4). We can ask ourselves a related question, When we sing on Sundays, do we do so only with emotion, or with knowledge and understanding?

In Job 38, we discover that there was musical worship when the Lord laid the earth’s foundation: “the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy” (v. 7). A faithful pastor once said that “singing is as old as creation. Singing was there before the creation of the very world you and I inhabit . . . the DNA of singing is worship to God. It was there in the heavens before we ever enjoyed it here on earth.” Apart from God, from Whom comes all knowledge, understanding, and truth, music and our singing in praise and worship is meaningless.

Whether we sing in public or private, work or leisure, church or home, it is important to understand the divine design and purpose of music (and our entire lives): to worship and to give glory and honor to the living God. We worship Christ, the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20) who laid the cornerstone (Job 38:6). “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Ps. 150:6)!

Go Deeper

What has been your personal experience with music and worship? Have you ever experienced music in a way that made you both feel and think?

Pray With Us

Lord Jesus, how incredible to realize that even the stars sing, and the angels shout Your praises. What a privilege to join this eternal choir! As we study, may our hearts understand Your divine design for music in our lives.

This Devotional is from Sing to the Lord: Music in the Bible written by author Dr. Brian Lee

Find more edifying, Christ-centered devotionals and other great resources at www.todayintheword.org

The post God’s Design for Music | Today In The Word appeared first on 93.7 The Light.

I want to show you, from God’s Word, why we have an obligation to influence the direction of the United States of America!

First of all, we are ambassadors for Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us this in Second Corinthians 5:20. What is an ambassador and what do they do? An ambassador is a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government as the resident representative of his or her own government. What does this mean for believers in Jesus? Paul said in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in Heaven. If we are ambassadors, then we have been sent from our home country Heaven, by our King Jesus, to represent His values in the land to which He sent us. As citizens of these United States, we’ve been given the right to influence who leads this nation and the direction those leaders take the nation. Luke 12:48 reminds us that to whom much is given, much is required. That verse isn’t just talking about financial resources, it includes influence as well.

So then if we as believers in Jesus Christ, living temporarily as citizens of this nation, are supposed to make a difference here for our home country Heaven, what does that look like? In Matthew 5:14 Jesus told us to be the light of the world. One verse earlier He commanded us to be the salt of the earth. In order to influence this country for our home country we, as followers of Christ, must be Salt and Light!

Salt, before the days of refrigeration was the primary means of preserving food. So, when Jesus says we are to be salt, our job is to help preserve our culture from spoiling or becoming rotten. To be the light of the world is to help dispel the darkness that keeps people wandering around lost. How are we doing? Not so good!

Don’t misunderstand, we can’t make people behave. People that don’t know Jesus, don’t have our moral compass. We should share the Gospel with everyone we can and let the Spirit of God do His work. But there are some things we can do, things that our country still allows us to do and things our Ambassadorship requires of us.

We can speak out about the darkness and rottenness in our culture. We can work to have ungodly practices and laws ended. We can work to get people elected who still believe there is a God to whom we must all give an account.

Using our freedom to vote is a minimum requirement for all believers in this free nation. We have not been called by God and left here to go along and get along. We are here in this temporary kingdom by God’s providence to make a difference for His Eternal Kingdom. So, let’s embrace our Ambassadorship this November and support those issues and candidates up and down the ballot who most closely align with Biblical principles and the priorities of our King of Kings!

Tracy Figley

CEO of Strong Tower Christian Media

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Depression is on the rise.  In the article, “U.S. Depression Rates Reach New Heights,” published in Wellbeing, (May 17, 2023), Dan Witters reports, “The percentage of U.S. adults who report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime has reached 29%, nearly 10 percentage points higher than in 2015.  Over one-third of women (36.7%) now report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime, compared with 20.4% of men, and their rate has risen at nearly twice the rate of men since 2017.”

These statistics are mentioned to let everyone know that depression is a real issue in our world today.  Depression in the 10 years leading up to the pandemic…increased by about 40% among young people according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Depression can be diagnosed on a scale from mild to severe. This blog is not to downplay the importance of securing a support system or scheduling an appointment with a Christian doctor or mental health provider.  This blog is to encourage individuals to fill our minds with the positive Word of God to align our spirit, soul, and body to God’s ultimate plan (Jeremiah 29:11).  The enemy attacks us in our mind with thoughts of worry, fear, and anxiety.  The enemy is out to destroy us and separate us from the LOVE of GOD!

Depression is found in and out of the “Church” contrary to what many people may believe. There are myths and misconceptions that may keep Christians from seeking professional help or admitting to a trusted friend or pastor they are experiencing depression. Christians have often taken the stoic (free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief) stance and suppress that they are experiencing some form of depression out of fear they will be labeled with one of the following myths.

• Myth 1: Depression is caused by a lack of willpower.
• Myth 2: Depression is caused by unconfessed sin.  Suffering is punishment from God.
• Myth 3: Depression is self-pity.  If you’re depressed, you’re just feeling sorry for yourself.
• Myth 4: Depression is caused solely by a chemical imbalance.
• Myth 5: Depression is due to lack of faith.

I have my own personal thoughts on the above myths.  My thoughts are based upon my own journey through depression as a Christian, as well as my professional background in counseling and education. I want to remind you, if you are experiencing depression my number one suggestion is to secure a support system (pastor or trusted confidant) or schedule an appointment with a Christian doctor or mental health provider who can assist you.  It may take both the spiritual side (prayer and scripture) and the physical (counseling and medication) to advance you out of the depression depending on the severity and longevity you are experiencing.

An Argument Against the Myths of Depression

I disagree that depression is due to a lack of willpower.  As stated earlier, Satan is always attempting to influence our thinking.  A person who might look at this myth gets trapped in a never-ending loop of self defeating efforts to try and do better.  This trying to do better often feeds into increased depression because the person is unable to achieve relief.

I do agree that depression can, but not always be due to unconfessed sin.  I definitely do not believe that depression is placed upon a person as punishment from God.  The same never-ending cycle of someone looking for that next sin they need to confess can feed into increased depression, just like the myth of lack of willpower.  As we become more and more like Christ in putting on the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control; we have more of God’s power to overcome the enemy and his attack on our minds.  As we can take the focus off the negative and place it on the positive, God is faithful to complete the work within us that He began (Philippians 1:6).

Myth number 3 falls into the same category as myths 1 and 2.  I don’t agree that depression is caused by self-pity.  However, depending on a person’s make-up, they may begin to feed self-pity that compounds and deepens the depression.

Myth numbers 4 and 5 are probably the most controversial within the Body of Christ due to their complexity.  I do believe that over a period of time a person’s chemical brain make-up can change due to depression.  Are some people more susceptible to depression than others because of their chemical make-up?  Chemical brain make-up can change due to trauma.  Trauma often proceeds depression because a person has a difficult time coping with the changes caused by that trauma. The issue is, if you are experiencing depression, there may be medication that can help you realign the chemical balance in your brain. Additionally, diet and exercise have been found to have longer lasting results and creates less dependence on a substance for the healthy recovery of your brain’s chemical make-up.

Myth number 5 may be used unwittingly as a weapon by those not or never having experienced depression. There is a fine line between faith and trusting that God will make all things right, and condemning oneself that they are depressed because they themselves lack the amount of faith necessary to recover. People then compare themselves to others they have seen and individuals in the Bible that experienced miraculous recovery, and then see themselves as “the one God did not heal.”

This article is speaking in general.  Each person’s experience is different.  If you are the person experiencing depression, reach out to a trusted friend first, and tell them about this article and how you are struggling.  If they are the true friend, they will not condemn you or state any of the above myths.  They can pray with you and give helpful encouragement and possible next steps.

The next section of this article is focused on the title, “The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength.”  If you’ve read this far, you may have experienced a sense of hopelessness.  I want to provide some of the scriptures that I have found helpful for me. 

I’d like to start with a hymn from my childhood called, “Reach Out to Jesus.”  Music choices can often lift the depressive spirit or thoughts we may be having in our head.

Is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone? 

Does the road you travel harbor danger yet unknown? 

Are you growing weary in the struggle of it all? 

Jesus will help you when on His name you call.

He is always there, hearing every prayer, faithful and true. 

Walking by our side, in His love we hide, all the day thru. 

When you get discouraged, just remember what to do,

reach out to Jesus, He’s reaching out to you.

Is this life you’re living filled with sorrow and despair? 

Does the future press you with its worry and its care? 

Are you tired and friendless, have you almost lost your way? 

Jesus will help you.  Just call on Him today.

Often, depression is seeing life with no options or hope.  “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12).  The Bible is full of verses that provide hope if we choose to take them into our lives just as regularly as we might take in the prescribed medicine or exercises provided by a doctor or mental health professional.  Here are just a few of the many hope-filled, joy-filled scriptures within the Bible. 

“‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”

Lamentations 3:24

“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

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:5

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Romans 15:14

“…Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10b

“Remember the word you gave me.  Through it you gave me hope.  This is my comfort in my misery.  Your promise gave me a new life.”

Psalm 119:49-50

The hope we need to face each day is not of our own making.  Our strength, our hope, and our courage is us being in Jesus and Jesus being in us.  We can find this oneness in Christ when we read about “The Vine and the Branches” in John 15:1-17, as well as reading Psalm 91 with the vivid picture of us dwelling in the presence of God.

The joy of the Lord is our strength in whatever circumstance we may be.  Therefore, let us be of good courage through the strength of Christ as we face each and every day.

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Recently, I tried to describe to my fourteen-year-old son that September morning that seemingly changed everything for those of us who were alive then. I have heard it compared to our parents and grandparents telling us what it was like to hear President Kennedy was killed, but I think for us, it was even more. We all watched it happen in real time, and thousands of people were hurt and killed. I still remember the feeling of just not being able to breathe.

When I talked to my son about the day, there just weren’t words to describe all the emotion. He’ll never know those feelings – well, I hope he will never know. But I had to try. So, we talked about the deaths and the destruction and the planning that was involved, but we also read about the heroes and the helpers and, at least for a time, the unity that resulted from such an attack on us. He should know.

But I think there’s another sense in which that day was different. We learned in elementary school that the phrase “Remember the Alamo!” was used to rally the troops in Texas and that “Remember Pearl Harbor!” motivated our grandparents and great-grandparents to make sacrifices beyond the norm. As the anniversary of 9/11 approaches each year, we are reminded to “remember” the day. Remember both the pain and the deaths but also those who tried to help and to heal. But because of the nature of the attack and now, the time that has passed, we aren’t really rallying anybody to anything, and we aren’t hating and striking at all the people and the countries from which the attackers came.

So as my son was learning, I wondered what real value there is to “Remember 9/11.” Yes, we should commemorate the sacrifices made, that day and in the years following, and the so many innocent lives taken. But I can’t help thinking that what we see from that day, so starkly and so vividly, is that this world needs Jesus. There have been other just as evil events in world history but nothing so striking in our lifetimes. 9/11 shouts that there is immense evil in the world – but not just that. It reminds us that we cannot do much of anything about it. Jesus told His disciples that we would have tribulation in this world. He said that there will be wars and rumors of wars, bitterness and lawlessness, poverty and injustice. But He also said He has overcome the world. When He returns, He will come with great power and glory, and evil and pain like 9/11 will be remembered no more.

While we cannot prevent most of the evil that happens in our world, we can help people who are suffering here without the hope that it will all someday be better. Knowing only the evil without knowing true hope is an awful burden to live with. If you know the One who promises to make our burdens light, share Him with others.

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Of course, we will see them. They’ll be home for (most) breaks and for the summer. But it will be different – they will be different. They have lived on their own to some extent and have taken care of themselves. While they will still expect you to do their laundry, they have a new sense of self-sufficiency and an expectation of freedom, whether we think they are ready for it or not. And if you try to relate to them the way you did while they were younger, I think you will find it doesn’t go very well for you. You’ll be frustrated and hurt.

So at this back-to-school time, here are a few lessons we can practice to make this adjustment a little easier on our hearts. The first thing – and this isn’t just a platitude – is to pray. God knows this is hard, and He knows what both we and our children need. He will give us the wisdom we need to navigate this new stage of life, comfort to heal our hearts, grace to love well and to do and say the right things, and mercy for when we don’t. Put your child in God’s care.

A second help is to make use of your memories, when they come to mind naturally and intentionally. Look at pictures or old videos with your kids, and do a lot of, “Remember when. . .” The time we have with our children is so short. Recalling the good memories can stretch out that time in our hearts.

A third practice is to make memories now. It will probably be more difficult to get your kids to do things with you than it was when they were young, but now that you know how short the time really is and how valuable memories are, intentionally planning fun things to do or even making a spontaneous trip to a coffee shop will be easier to make a priority.

The last lesson I would suggest is to work on yourself. You knew when you became a parent that the job isn’t forever. Your whole purpose was to care for, nurture, teach, and love them so that they would leave well – your parenting job was only ever meant to be temporary. You haven’t lost your purpose. You are missing your kids, but you still have the rest of your life ahead of you, now with time to fill with new activities. Look for ways to make new friends, learn new skills or revive whatever you put aside to be a mom or dad. Volunteer, mentor a young person. Keep up your fellowship with the people at church. Renew your relationship with your spouse and with God. Your relationship with your kids is changing, but you are still a child of God. He will be your comfort and hope through all the changes of life.

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You can see the story yourself in Genesis 37-50 to get all the details – if you do not know the story already, you will not regret reading it. It’s one of the longest and most picturesque narratives of the Bible, so I do not really even have the space here to summarize it. But I do want to tell you about a particular part of Joseph’s life. Joseph was a favorite of his dad, hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, accused of rape, a prisoner, an interpreter of dreams, a savior of his people, and leader of the known world, but when Joseph is mentioned in Hebrews 11, the chapter that records many people known and commended for their faith, this is what it says: By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones (Hebrews 11:22).

What?? Of all the things Joseph endured and accomplished, this is what the writer of Hebrews praises Joseph for? Mentioning the Israelites leaving Egypt and telling them what to do with his bones? Why does that rate being in the same category with those who conquered kingdoms or left all they knew or were beaten or killed? Joseph was abused, mistreated, forgotten, and used mightily by God, but here in Hebrews, none of that is recognized. What was it about Joseph’s words that revealed such faith?

When Joseph was about to die, he told his family that God will bring them out of Egypt and into the land that He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and because he knew God would one day do this, Joseph wanted to be part of it and made his family swear that they would carry his bones with them to the Promised Land.

The Promised Land looked further away now than before – none of the Israelites were in the land now, and it would be over 300 more years until God sent Moses. I don’t know if by the time of Joseph’s death, the Israelites were already coming under oppression or if they were just so entrenched in Egypt that they could not get out, but it seems they couldn’t. But Joseph knew one day they would. God had promised, and Joseph believed. The last verse of Genesis says that Joseph was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

His faith was so strong that it was passed down from generation to generation. Moses records in the book of Exodus that he brought the bones of Joseph with him out of Egypt because Joseph had made the Israelites swear that they would. So Joseph, most likely in a King Tut-like coffin, was carried across the Red Sea, all around the wilderness for forty years, and then, finally, into the Promised Land, where, according to the very end of the book of Joshua, he was buried in the burial plot of his father, Jacob.

Joseph died before God completely fulfilled His promise – and so did Abraham, Moses, Samson, the prophets, and all the others in the chapter of faith, but Joseph had seen God’s goodness in his life and knew God will one day soon come bring all His people into the place He has promised for him and for us.

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The Second of July.

The Continental Congress voted to declare independence from England on July 2, 1776, but the Declaration of Independence was officially adopted two days later, after all the edits and changes were made. John Adams, later the second President, believed that July 2 should be the day to celebrate “the great anniversary festival.” In fact, he believed it so strongly that he protested by turning down invitations to events on the 4^th.

Food and Fireworks.

That same John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, that the day “ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shows, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” I don’t know that we Americans have kept up with the devotion to God part, but we have with the festivals and “illuminations.”  The very first anniversary of Independence Day in Philadelphia in 1777 included a fireworks show, a dinner, and even a parade. Now, New York City hosts the biggest fireworks display, but many other cities and even small towns put on fireworks shows for their residents. This year, Americans are expected to spend $9.9 billion on food for Independence Day and over $2 billion on fireworks.

Not a Good Day for Presidents.

Three Presidents of the United States, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe, all died on the Fourth of July. Adams and Jefferson, who were both signers of the Declaration of Independence, died on the same day, the 50^th anniversary of Independence Day, and Monroe died five years later.

Liberty Bell Still Rings.

No one could ever know the real numbers, but there are tens to hundreds of thousands of descendants of the signers of the Declaration living now. Each year, a few children who are in those family lines are given the opportunity to ceremonially ring the Liberty Bell on the fourth of July. They tap the bell thirteen times at 2 p.m. every Independence Day to honor the original thirteen states.

If you’ve learned anything from reading this, share it with others. Celebrate this Fourth of July safely and gratefully.

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Can you imagine what you would feel If you were in an emergency; hit “on” to your device, and the screen is BLACK? What emotion would come over you?

I had to quickly tell myself, “BE STILL, don’t panic, and pray!” Each experience caused me to do a “troubleshooting” process. What were the circumstances that occurred before each event? Was there anything that was similar between the experiences?

Daily experiences often cause me to have what I call, “God Moments.” I immediately thought about our personal spiritual lives as I thought about the loss of power and black screens to my computers. I realized we need reserves and need to stay charged up in our Christian walk. We need to have faith and simultaneously check our connection to the source and resolve any issues that might hinder our best performance. I summarized what I learned from my black screen experiences that I could apply to our spiritual life.

First, fill the tank (in some manner…plug in to the source).

“God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble” (Psalms 46:1). Too often our first go-to is our own strength to get through our crises. We pull on our intellectual wisdom and past experience. However, our strength is not sufficient because the Bible declares God’s words, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”(Isaiah 55:8-9).

We need to fill our tank with the WORD of God. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). We need to praise and worship God because, “The joy of the Lord is your strength. You must not be dejected and sad!” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Make sure you have asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. He is the only source of power on which we can depend. Jesus died and rose from the grave to restore us to right relationship with God. Jesus promised that he would send Holy Spirit to be our comforter, teacher, and power source to guide us as “an advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth” (John 14:16-17a). “We get our new life from the Spirit. So we should follow the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

Continue to pray and peek (check the battery, is it critical and in the red or is the battery now green?)

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Prayer is our continued connection to God. Our prayer life should be like the set of a bird’s wings; one side prayer and the other side praise.

Counting your blessings every day is peeking at the goodness of God and the progress of His filling and providing for you. We need to remember the accomplishments of our God. What have we seen God provide for us? Do we count God’s marvelous works as unable to meet our needs for today? “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Continue praying and keep filling from the source. Be at rest (peace) and give time without continued peeking. Go about doing the next right thing and trust God will make all things right.

We need to realize that we are leaky vessels and do not hold a never-ending charge of God’s presence. Being a Christian is a daily relationship talking to God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). As we input the Word of God daily, pray and praise daily, we will gain a peace that passes all understanding and keeps our hearts and minds stayed upon Him (Philippians 4:17).

Stress and worry drains the tank of energy. The Peace of God fills the tank. Holy Spirit and His nudgings of Truth through the word, prayer, and praise also helps to seal some of those cracks in our tank and improves the longevity of the fillings. But, we must NEVER forget, God walked with Adam every day in the cool of the day. God wants to do the same with us, and therefore, we can assume, God is a daily moment by moment filling God that doesn’t want us to store up for a lifetime at one filling.

Remember the first glimpse of screen light turns up our FAITH.

There are times we have been chugging along and we forget the wonders of God’s interventions and blessings in our lives. We can miss the small actions that are the beginning of the refueling of our lives because we are still focused on all the negative and lack we are experiencing.

In my own experience, I have found God doesn’t give the full end of the story’s picture. He gives small glimpses of encouragement that keeps me going, knowing that God knows where I am and what I’m experiencing. I can know that He has never failed me, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Our walk with God is by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). But, glimpses along the path sure do go a long way to keep us putting one foot in front of another. I heard recently, “If I can see your Face (God), I can finish the race” (Author Anonymous). God said through Jeremiah the prophet, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (29:11). We need to daily keep seeking for the glimpse of God’s power in our lives.

Trust God to be your source and stay plugged in at all costs.

It was amazing that as I have worked on this article, I’ve had to put into practice my words. I think that is a God Moment to confirm to me that I cannot write to others what I am not living. I woke up this morning with a feeling of dread. A feeling that I could compare to a “Black Screen” moment. I did not have a desire to get out of bed, I didn’t want to go to work, I wanted to hide in my house for the day. Many years ago, this was a daily experience and I had to push my way with Christ through those dark days to where I am today.

I quickly realized I was in a spiritual battle to trust God to be my power source. I needed to recharge and power up at all costs. I sat longer and was quiet before I started my morning routine. During my quiet time I was crying out to God expressing my weakness. I finally had enough energy to open my Bible and complete my normal morning devotionals. As I plugged in to my daily routine, I could sense the fog of my mind and body lifting. By the time I left for work, I was able to pray and praise God with my normal energy and taking in the sounds and sights that continue to remind me of God’s GREAT love and compassion. I could have been defeated for the day if I had not recognized that my power source was needing to be plugged in at all costs.

I cannot afford to function on a low spiritual battery. People in my sphere of influence may need me to be the spark of energy they need in their lives for that day. I pray that you will find God as your power source and that you establish a routine that keeps you charged up and running on full each and every day.

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But what always got me about that story is that those little kids walked over a mile and a half to get to that cemetery! No school now would even think about doing such a thing, but this would have been in the late 1930s, and times were a little different. The parents of those students would have fought in or been directly affected by the First World War, and unfortunately, an even bigger war was just around the corner.

For the most part today, we aren’t as directly connected to someone who was killed in battle, so Memorial Day and its observances just don’t seem as important, and it would not be hard to come up with reasons why we shouldn’t participate this year–or any year. Have you used or can see yourself using any of these excuses?

1. Outside at the end of May, it could be really hot. Or rainy. Or cold.

2. It might run long, and the kids will be so bored.

3. I really don’t know any of the soldiers who have died.

4. I have a Memorial Day party planned, and I need that time to get ready for it.

5. I have already thanked a veteran and bought a poppy.

I know I have thought some of these, and you may have as well, but perhaps a better understanding of the day will help us rethink some of our excuses. Very soon after the ending of the Civil War, a powerful group of Union veterans issued an act establishing Memorial Day as the day the whole nation would remember the soldiers killed in battle and decorate their graves, and May 30 was chosen to ensure an ample supply of spring flowers. Women, especially in the South, had already been putting flowers and wreaths on graves, but this made it more universal.

The day, then and now, is not intended to thank or celebrate living veterans but those killed in battle. In fact, some veterans are offended when any focus is put on them that day. It is important to remember those no longer here, young people who never got a chance to do whatever it is you are planning or enjoying today. We think we’ll remember, but God knew we humans very easily forget. Several times God told the Israelites to set stones up as a memorial—as a visual reminder of what He had done for them. And going to look at the tombstones is a very good way to remember and be grateful for what those men and women did for us.

One of the points of the original Memorial Day orders was that cemeteries were to have “pleasant paths” to enable visitors and mourners access to prove to the present and coming generations that we have not “forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.” So if you really can’t attend a service, maybe you can help clean up a gravesite or put down some flowers on the grave of someone who no longer has anyone to care, as a way of helping not just you, but others remember the cost.

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