John 15.22 Saturday, Oct 11 2025 

Uncategorized kennethbow 5:56 am

Exegetical Explanation

Greetings,

I would like to take a moment today and make reference to John chapter 15 verse 22.

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

I want to clarify what this verse means-

Jesus is referring to the sin of rejecting truth, rejecting the messiah, and he is saying if he had not come, they would not have this sin to contend with.

He is not saying they would not have sin in their life for everyone has sin Romans 3.23 says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 

In the larger picture of the entire chapter 15, Jesus is showing them that they have rejected the light, they have rejected the truth of he being the Messiah.

In verse 22, Jesus is simply saying if he had not come, they would not have this particular sin in their life.

Many people try to extend this verse to meaning the basic nature of sin -this of course does not fit with the overall exegesis of scripture.

Blessings.

 

Holiness and the Talmud Thursday, May 1 2025 

Doctrine , , , , , , , kennethbow 10:21 am

Holiness:

I want to post about our survival as a people-the Aposttolic church so I decided to include the note on the Talmud because it supports our position on holiness in this present day. The Torah is the Jewish name for the Pentateuch. The Pentateuch is the first five books of the Bible. The Talmud is the collection of commentary from Jewish Rabbis on the Torah. Why would this be important to us as Gentiles? My answer is it provides such a beautiful example of how to survive in a world that does not understand us as Apostolics. To live in our world, which views us as outdated and eccentric, is becoming more difficult as society drifts farther and farther from the principals of the Bible. The Jew has survived in every century, in every culture, and in every continent. The Jewish life is as strong today as it was 2000 years ago. As Apostolics, we need to adopt some of the same principles to insure we do not lose our identity. The five books of Moses can be written out in about 350 pages. The Talmud now takes up 523 books in 22 volumes. As the Jew was scuttled from empire to empire, the need arose for a protection from the blows without and the pressure from within. The Talmud has provided that. The Talmud has become the home of the Jew no matter where he lives in the world. The Talmud has single handedly provided the survival of the Jewish person. As Apostolics, it appears to me that we are in danger of losing our heritage of holiness. More and more I see whole churches assimilated into our worlds culture and mores. We need holiness and separation more than ever before. The way we dress and live must not die with this generation. As simple as it may seem, our standards are what will keep us separated from the world. Simple things like sleeve length, and the distinction of dress between male and female, are critical to the survival of the Apostolic heritage. It provides us with the cold concrete of protection from the blows that come from without. In the Talmud, there are many issues that may seem insignificant. But upon inspection the Talmud provided the Jew with answers to the baffling questions of life. The Talmud has done more to preserve the Jewish way of life than any other factor. This oral law that has been discussed over the centuries has kept the Jewish people uniquely Jewish. It is my hope that our holiness standards will keep us Apostolic in a world that has lost all sense of direction. The Rabbis have haggled over every phase of Jewish life. They have argued over every word and comma. In the process of mulling all this over, they created a mandate for survival in a hostile world. When the world attacked, the Talmud was there to soften the blow and stiffen the will. Other ancient cultures have faded from the earth, but the Jew has survived. Can we learn a lesson from them? The authors of the Talmud seemed to think that no issue was too small to discuss. They would debate for months whether a person could wear a false tooth on the Sabbath. A tailor could not take his needle in his hand just before the Sabbath because he might forget and go out with it. You could have candy in your mouth as long as it was put in your mouth before the Sabbath began. They discussed for nine years one statement in the law; “Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.” From this one issue came the whole idea of Kosher food and food that was not Kosher. Our first response might be, that is foolish and insignificant. But never forget it is the small things that have kept them as a people. They have survived. We need to appreciate the “small” things if we are going to preserve this Apostolic way of life. Our standards of dress are important to our survival. Our standards of what we watch and what entertainment we allow is important to our future. Our survival depends on the small things. I will be the first to admit that the Rabbis went to extremes to preserve the Jewish way of life. However, it is beyond argument that the Jew has survived while other people have been assimilated and have vanished from the stage of time. Our survival as a distinct people depends on the small things. We must maintain our holiness and our standards of life. When they become unimportant, you can write the epitaph of the Apostolic movement.

 

You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet Monday, Apr 7 2025 

Uncategorized , , , kennethbow 3:29 pm

     YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET! 

There was a time when the sun never set on the British Empire (13.7 million miles). The Roman Empire coined a phrase all roads led to Rome (1.9 million miles), but there had never been a larger contiguous land empire than that of the Mongols. 

Established in 1206 by Genghis Khan — who was born Temujin in 1162 and whose name, also transliterated as Chinggis, means “universal ruler” His early life was marked by hardship; his father was poisoned by rival tribes, and his family was left destitute. Despite these struggles, Temüjin showed leadership qualities from a young age, uniting various Mongol clans through diplomacy, alliances, and strategic warfare.

In 1206, Temüjin declared himself Genghis Khan, meaning “universal ruler,” after uniting the Mongol tribes under his leadership. This marked the beginning of his ambition to expand Mongol influence beyond the steppes.

— the empire eventually reached a size of at least 9 million square miles. To call this unlikely would be an understatement. Temujin rose to power from a tumultuous childhood, and the Mongols were a nomadic people whose territorial expansion came about largely due to brutal military tactics and fierce pragmatism.

At its peak, the empire included all of modern-day China and Mongolia in addition to parts of Armenia, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Korea, and the Persian Empire among others.  For all of Genghis’ savvy, however, his descendants proved a fractious bunch who fought among themselves and oversaw his empire’s decline; with the exception of his grandson Kublai Khan, few others in the dynasty are recalled fondly. Even so, Genghis’ massive effect on the world might best be summarized by two staggering statistics: He was responsible for the deaths of as much as 11% of the world’s population (40 million out of 360 million) at the time, and 1 in every 200 men living today are his direct descendants.

No one knows where Genghis Khan is buried.

Though Genghis Khan was one of history’s most consequential figures, there are two things no one knows about the famed leader: what he looked like and where he’s buried. The first is easy enough to explain, as he lived nearly 1,000 years ago and contemporaneous accounts of his appearance differ. The latter is a bit more unusual. Genghis wished to be buried in secret, and the army that escorted his body is said to have slain anyone it came across en route to his final resting place, lest those passersby tell anyone what they saw. After the burial, those same soldiers rode 1,000 horses over Genghis’ grave to bury any trace of it along with him. There are also stories, most likely untrue, that the enslaved people responsible for burying him were then slaughtered so they couldn’t share their knowledge, and that the guards who carried out this act were themselves killed by a second group of soldiers, who then took their own lives. Though the exact location of the grave remains a mystery, scholars believe Genghis is buried somewhere near Burkhan Khaldun, a mountain considered sacred by the Mongols. 

Genghis Khan is remembered as one of the most powerful and influential leaders in history, revered for his military brilliance and feared for his ruthless tactics. His impact continues to resonate in global history.

BUT… YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET

The Coming King: Jesus’ Return to Reign Over All the Earth

 “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth (57.5 million miles). In that day it shall be — ‘The Lord is one, and His name one.’” (Zechariah 14:9)

 The Hope of His Return

The return of Jesus Christ is central to our faith. Just as He promised, Jesus will return to establish His righteous kingdom on earth. This truth stirs us to live in readiness, holiness, and expectation.

• John 14:3 — “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself…”

• Acts 1:11 — “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner…” Jesus is coming back.

The return of Jesus is not symbolic — it is literal, visible, and powerful. 

Rev 1.7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. 

The Nature of Jesus’ Return

Jesus’ second coming will involve two key events:

1. The parousia of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

2. The Second Coming to Establish His Kingdom (Revelation 19:11-16)

Key Scripture:

• 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout…” (To be caught upg0726. ἁρπάζω harpazō; to seize (in various applications): — catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).

AV (13) – catch up 4, take by force 3, catch away 2, pluck 2, catch 1, pull 1;

to seize, carry off by force to seize on, claim for one’s self eagerly  to snatch out or away

• Revelation 19:16 — “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

We believe the parousia (1 Thes 4.15;the coming, arrival, advent the future visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God  is imminent) — it could happen at any moment. After a period mentioned in Revelation, Jesus will return in power to judge the nations and establish His kingdom.

Jesus Will Establish a Kingdom of Peace and Righteousness

The Bible speaks clearly about a future kingdom where Jesus reigns from Jerusalem, bringing peace to the entire world.

• Isaiah 9:6-7 — “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…”

• Zechariah 14:9 — “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth…”

In this kingdom:

• Wars will cease (Micah 4:3)

• Nature will be restored (Isaiah 11:6-9)

• Righteousness will prevail (Psalm 72:7)

The Role of the Church in Preparing for Jesus’ Return

As believers, we have a mandate to prepare for His coming by:

1. Living Holy Lives — “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

2. Preaching the Gospel — “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world and then…” (Matthew 24:14)

3. Operating in the Power of the Holy Spirit — The outpouring of the Spirit empowers us to testify boldly. (Acts 1:8)

The Spirit-filled church must actively seek revival, praying for souls to come to Christ before His return.

The Urgency of the Hour

• Matthew 24:42 — “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”

Jesus’ return is both a promise and a warning. As believers, we are called to stay vigilant and prepared.

 Living in Expectation

Jesus is coming back to reign, and His kingdom will cover the entire earth. As Children of God, we must stay filled with the Holy Ghost, preach the gospel with urgency, and live in readiness for His return.

Call to Action:

• Examine Your Heart: Are you ready for Jesus’ return?

• Empower Your Witness: Ask God for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit to boldly proclaim the gospel.

  • Encourage Others: Share the hope of His soon-coming kingdom with those around you.

The future kingdom of Jesus Christ is coming. His kingdom will be greater than the Roman empire or the British empire or the Mongol Empire. It will encompass the whole world.You will be a part of that kingdom if you stay in the church and live for God.

 

Preaching Still Works Sunday, Mar 30 2025 

Uncategorized , , , , , , kennethbow 8:06 pm

Preaching Still Works

Let me tell you something: preaching still works. I don’t care what the world says, I don’t care what culture tries to cancel, the preached Word of God is still God’s chosen weapon to change lives.

It works in the church. It works in the streets. It works in living rooms. It works on the radio. Preaching just works.

Romans 10:14 says, “How shall they hear without a preacher?” Oh, you better believe it—God uses the foolishness of preaching to confound the wise, to break the chains of sin, and to raise the dead things back to life.

Preaching isn’t just talking—it’s declaring. It’s proclaiming. It’s releasing the fire of Heaven into the hearts of people. 

When that anointed Word goes forth, demons tremble, sickness flees, and hearts are pierced with conviction. Preaching is a lifeline, a sword, a trumpet in Zion. It tears down strongholds and lifts up the Name that is above every name—JESUS!

That’s why you need to get involved. That’s why you need to say amen or waive your hand or stand up or do something to show. Yes, I support this. Yes, I am involved. Yes, I’m on board.

You can have your lights, your programs, your productions— if there’s no preaching, there’s no power. It is the one indispensable thing needed to build a church. You must have preaching.

Paul told Timothy, “Preach the Word. Be instant in season and out of season. ” That means when they want it and when they don’t. Because somebody’s soul is hanging in the balance.

Preaching works—because God watches over His Word to perform it. So when the Word is preached, miracles break out. When the Word is preached, prodigals come home. When the Word is preached, revival breaks loose. Preaching makes things happen.

Matt 4.23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom,…..

g2784. κηρύσσω kēryssō; of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel): — preacher(-er), proclaim, publish.

AV (61) – preach 51, publish 5, proclaim 2, preached + g2258 2, preacher 1;

to be a herald, to officiate as a herald to proclaim after the manner of a herald -always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed. To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it, made by John the Baptist, by Jesus, by the apostles and other Christian teachers…

It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe

John preached Matt 3.1

Jesus preached Matt 4.23

Jonah preached Matt 12.41

Apostles preached Acts 8.4

Paul and Barnabas preached Acts 15.35

1 Cor 1.18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Cor 1.21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Cor 2.4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

Titus 1.3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

So don’t stop preaching. 

Don’t water it down. 

Don’t compromise. 

Preach it hot, preach it holy, preach it full of the Holy Ghost. 

Because preaching still works!

Why Preaching Still Works:

Romans 10:13-15

“For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without a preacher?”

Preaching is God’s Method, Not Man’s Idea

“How shall they hear without a preacher?”

Church, preaching didn’t come from a church board or a conference committee—it came from the mind of God. 

From the prophets in the Old Testament to John the Baptist in the wilderness, to Jesus Himself declaring, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”to the Apostles—God has always used a voice to carry His message.

Preaching is not a TED Talk. It’s not a motivational speech. It’s not entertainment.

It is the divine delivery system of Heaven’s message to Earth.

Preaching Breaks Chains and Builds Faith.

Romans 10:17 – “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

When the Word is preached—faith is born. 

When Peter preached, 3,000 souls were saved. 

When Paul preached, demons fled and dead men rose.

The preached Word builds up what the devil tried to tear down.

It breaks addiction. 

It heals hearts. 

It stirs the sleeping. 

It calls the prodigal home.

You may not remember the preacher’s name… but you’ll remember what God did through that Word.

Preaching Carries Power Because It Carries God’s Presence

1 Corinthians 1:21 – “It pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

Don’t let the world call it foolish. Heaven calls it fire.

When preaching is under the anointing—it’s not the preacher talking—it’s the Spirit of God declaring war on darkness.

When preaching goes forth, it’s not just volume—it’s violence in the spirit realm, tearing down strongholds and lifting up the Cross.

Preaching invites the presence of God to invade the present moment.

Preaching Still Works—So Preach On!

The devil would love for the Church to go quiet…

He doesn’t mind a little worship, or a little fellowship—as long as there’s no preaching.

Because when we preach:

• Heaven listens

• Hell trembles

• And hearts are changed

So preach on preacher.

Preach when they shout, preach when they stare.

Preach when it’s popular, and preach when it’s not.

Preach in the pulpit, preach in the streets—preach in power and with fire.

If you’ve been running —it’s time to surrender.

If you’ve forgotten the power in the Word—it’s time to return.

And if you’re hungry for the fire of God to fall again—get to this altar and ask for fresh oil.

Two things about preaching

Number one it is the only indispensable thing in building a church. You can build without a building you can build without music you can build without a lot of things that we like, but preaching is the one thing you cannot do without. 

Number two preaching is the only element that every church in the world uses they may use different music or wear robes or have big cathedrals or meet in living rooms, but every one of them have preaching 

Because preaching still works.

 

The Key: Submission vs Obedience Saturday, Dec 7 2024 

Uncategorized , , , , kennethbow 10:18 am

The Key: Obedience vs Submission

Is there a difference between submitting and obeying?

Here are the definitions of each: Obedience: Obedience refers to the act of following instructions or orders from someone in a position of authority. It involves doing what you are told. Israel, obeyed, and grumbled while they were obeying. They definitely were not submitted.

Submission: Submission refers to the act of yielding your will and desires to the authority or control of someone else.

What is the spiritual meaning of submission? If your pastor is having problems with you, you have a problem with submission.

Submission is the spiritual discipline that frees us from the  burden of always needing to get our own way. If you always need to get your own way, life is frustrating and difficult and contentious. 

In submission we are learning to hold things lightly. 

We are also learning to diligently watch over the spirit in which we hold others— honoring them, preferring them, loving them even above ourselves.

Jesus provides the ultimate example of willing submission as He suffered intense agony in Gethsemane. Not my will but thine.

 Matt 26.39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Submission does not mean putting the will of the husband before the will of Christ. The Bible clearly teaches that the wife is a follower of Jesus before and above being a follower of her husband especially if he is going on the path of unbelief. She does not follow him in that, because she has been called to be a disciple of Jesus. 

Many years ago, I was at a conference and I heard a story. It was about a new convert and she was getting ready for church. When she walked out of her bedroom and stepped into the hall, her sinner husband was standing at the other end of the hall with a pistol pointed at her. He cocked the hammer back and said to her “you are not going to church tonight.”

She smiled and called him by name and said “if you pull that trigger, I’m going to heaven, and if you don’t pull that trigger, I’m going to church.”

That’s submission.

 

The Key: Submission Friday, Dec 6 2024 

Biblical history and Church news and Doctrine and Family and Marriage and Motivational and New Testament and Uncategorized , , , , kennethbow 11:36 am

Napoleon Hill said: You are searching for the magic key that will unlock the door to the source of power; and yet you have the key in your own hands, and you may use it the moment you learn to control your thoughts.

A key that opens many locks is worth buying. A lock that can be opened with many keys isn’t. 

If there truly was one single key that could open all of the blessings and benefits of God, what would it be? Would it be faith? Would it be prayer? Would it be giving? Would it be fasting?

I don’t know that one simple answer is the right key. But I do want to talk about at least one key that I think unlocks many things and possibly all things.

  • This key I am going to speak about unlocks your relationship with God. 
  • It unlocks your relationship with your pastor. 
  • It unlocks your relationship with your spouse. 
  • It unlocks your relationship with your parents and or with your kids. 
  • It unlocks your relationship with other people in the church 
  • It even unlocks your relationship with your boss and coworkers on the job and even neighbors.

I don’t remember ever hearing an entire sermon on the subject of submission. I’ve heard it alluded to and mentioned hundreds of times. But today I want to speak on this subject of submission. The key that unlocks every door. I hope the Lord will help me present it to you in all of its beauty and power. Too often it is seen as confining, or as an impediment to our will. Sometimes people see it limiting them or holding them back, which is not true.

What is the purpose of submission? Have we fallen into the thought processes that I am to submit to God but I don’t have to submit to my pastor, or I don’t have to submit to my spouse or I don’t have to submit to my parents.

By submitting we allow God complete control of our lives. As he works in us and through us, we will  see Him working around us. And where God works there is healing, life, and restoration. You see, our submission is to God so that He can use our lives to touch the lives of others.

Next blog:

Is there a difference between submitting and obeying?

 

The Key Thursday, Dec 5 2024 

Biblical history and Church news and Doctrine and New Testament , , kennethbow 11:50 am

The Key 

Matthew 16.13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

(Among the Hebrews the symbol of keys did not refer to the priests; it referred to the scribes, the teachers of the law whose duty it was to unlock the truth of God. The scribes had failed miserably in their office by not recognizing their Messiah- and now the Lord committed the keys to Simon Peter.)

After telling the parables of the kingdom, the Lord had said, “Every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old” (Matthew 13:52). 

When Peter made His inspired confession of faith (16:16), he became a scribe “instructed unto the kingdom of heaven.” When the Lord said to him, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (16:19), He was saying in effect, “You are my scribe.” Simon Peter used these keys to open the door first to the Jews, and then to the Samaritans and then the Gentiles—  he was in essence the scribe to show them the way of truth. He took the key Jesus gave him and unlocked the door.

But these keys were much more than the doors they unlocked in Acts 2, 8, &10. Jesus had given Peter the key of David, which is prophesied to be given to Messiah in Isaiah 22.22.  

And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder;

so he shall open, and none shall shut;

and he shall shut, and none shall open.Jesus had the keys to give to Simon Peter. 

Rev 1.18 Jesus has the keys of death and hell. 

In Rev 9 and also in chapter 20 Jesus has the key of the bottomless pit. The keys belong to Jesus to give to whomever he chooses. 

It is altogether possible he has a key he would like to give you today.

For the next few blogs I would like to write a few things about a key that will transform your life.

Stay tuned…

 

Sabbatical Tuesday, Feb 13 2024 

Uncategorized , , , , kennethbow 8:19 am

 Sabbatical

7.11 am EST 

Sunday February 11, 2024

Nassau, Bahamas

What is a sabbatical?

  • By definition, a sabbatical is a period of paid leave granted to a teacher, or other worker for study or travel or rest. It is a biblical concept. God required the priests every few years to take time off.

Why would God require a sabbatical?

  • A sabbatical is a time that provides a step away. Cessation of activity in our daily routine- much like sleep provides a cessation of activity to refuel, to rest, to recharge, to re-energize. It is a similar concept, but extended.

What are the goals and or benefits of a sabbatical.

  • Probably the number one goal is to step outside normal routine so the mind will flow in a new direction. It’s to step away for a period of time of a month or even up to a year. Some sabbaticals last longer than that.
  • For me it’s a time to evaluate and look back over the last 25 years while I have been in Washington. What are the achievements and lack of achievements? What are the successes and what are the failures? It is critical to remain unbiased and fair with yourself. I want to be honest with myself!
  • It is a time to re-prioritize. To look at what you’re spending your time doing and what are the results of that. It’s a time to remap your future. To sift through your responsibilities and ask yourself which of them are the most important? Am I spending enough time on those? Am I being derailed by less important things? Going forward how do I need to change the map of my life? What do I need to delegate to others? Is there any area of my life that I need to restructure?

So that is and was my purpose. To take time to let life slow down. To let the mind be at rest. To provide an opportunity for my thoughts to be creative. It is a time to say to yourself and to those you are responsible to, whatever amount of life I have left, how do I spend it?

After I was in Madera, for 10 years, I took a 30 day leave of absence or sabbatical if I can use that term. Personally, I feel like it was a turning point in my life. It prepared me for the major life things that I would encounter that I didn’t know were coming.

As I began to approach the 25 year mark in Washington state, I felt I needed that same getaway time to refocus, re-evaluate, and re-prioritize.

Looking back over 25 years, I want to appreciate and celebrate every success and accomplishment that we have had. All church success is a joint effort between God, a pastor, and a congregation. God will not do it by himself. A pastor cannot do it by himself. A congregation is not capable of doing it by themselves.

A sabbatical is not a vacation. There is a major difference. A true sabbatical means a break from your work. It is an extended period of time to travel or rest, and seek personal growth.

For me, I felt the need to look back at 25 years and assess it. I felt the need to look at what had been done, to see the things that I felt good about, and then look at the areas I could have done better. 

The second purpose was to analyze as best I could, what I could do going forward. As I age and my physical limitations began to show up, I felt the need to stop and say – what can I still do well and how can I contribute?

I am very thankful to all the people who make our church work. There are so many that contribute daily, weekly, and monthly. I want to be very careful, that I not take credit in my own mind for what they have done, for it is truly their achievements. Many, if not most of these, people would have had achievements no matter who had been the pastor here. I realize my primary job is to bring out the best in those that I am responsible for. To try to build them to be better. To try to maximize their life and accomplishments.

In my opinion we have a good church and we have good membership. I accept the fact I could have done things better. When I look inside myself, I know that I have tried. That is not an excuse. That is an honest evaluation. Going forward I want to continue to be honest with myself, and to give my best effort, as long as I am the pastor.

I realize what I contribute in my 70s will be different than what I contributed in my 50s and 60s. As simple as it may sound, I still want to give the best of what I have to offer. Possibly there are some ways I can offer more because of experience. That is my hope.

It is believed that a sabbatical offers an opportunity to invest in personal leadership. Reading the reports and testimonies of people who took sabbaticals, they generally report greater self clarity. They report restored confidence in their skills, and usually return with a fresh outlook and energy. It seems like they are able to go back to the core of who they are, and to shed some of the barnacles of life that tend to attach themselves to all of us.

In the year 2018 15% of the academic world allowed and recommended sabbaticals. Why?

Reduced stress is one benefit. 

In September 2022 I was on an airplane flight to Arkansas to preach at Dr. Scheel’s meeting. My Apple Watch gave me a notification that my heart rate had dropped to 30 and had stayed there for 10 minutes. After this alarm, I went to the doctor and they ran tests. This morning I counted up the days since that happened. It’s been 17 months or actually 513 days. Not once during that 513 days did I sleep one night without my heart dropping to 30 beats a minute. It usually occurred 2 to 3 times a night and my Apple Watch would always notify me.

This morning when I woke up, I checked my heart rate as I have for the last 500+ days. Maybe it is a coincidence that this happened during this sabbatical, during this time of getting away and trying to allow myself some mental rest, but for the first time in 513 days my heart rate was normal all night long for a solid eight hours. The range was from 50 to 60 bpm which is a normal range. It has been normal for three consecutive nights at this writing.

Will this continue I don’t know. All I’m trying to say here is thank you for giving me this opportunity to decompress, to reflect, and to look to the future, and try to remap by taking this short sabbatical. I had accepted the fact over the last 17 months that low heart rate at night would be my new norm for as long as I lived. Today I am very thankful that that might not be the case.

God Bless 

 

An Apostolic Man In An Apostate World Friday, Mar 3 2023 

Biblical history and Doctrine and Family and Marriage and Motivational and New Testament and Old Testament kennethbow 9:28 am

An Apostolic Man In An Apostate World

What is an Apostolic man? Very simply he is a follower of the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. The current fads and social ideas swirling around him do not faze him. He is Apostolic in his thinking.

He is Apostolic in his doctrine. He is not confused by false teaching or fake Pentecost or plastic Christians. He has read his Bible, studied the doctrine, listened to his Pastor, and there is no doubt in his heart that he is an Apostolic man. 

He is proud to be an Apostolic. Not a sinful pride that would contaminate his Holy Ghost. But a pride born of thankfulness and gratitude, that in a world full of false religion, God has singled him out to be a bearer of the torch of truth. 

Apostolic men are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

  • They will stand in the defiant face of an atheist and proclaim that God is. 
  • They will openly laugh at  an agnostic when he says he is confused whether or not there is a God. In fact a true Apostolic man will lift his voice and tell anyone, I know there is a God for I felt him. I know him and He is personal to me.

The Apostolic man of 2023 does not hide behind the walls of his local church fearful and afraid. He rises each morning to put on the armor of God, and walks into a dark world as the bearer of light of the one true God Jesus Christ.

He looks like an Apostolic man. No punk hairdos or crazy life styles because he represents Jesus Christ. He refuses to disfigure Jesus Christ to the world. He does not get tattoos or earrings or foolish trivial things that contaminate his tabernacle. His appearance is clean, clean shaven, no beards or mustaches or goatees, simple, and godly. When the legions who live in darkness see him, they see a clean wholesome man that represents true manhood. There is no trans gender confusion in the way an Apostolic man dresses and walks through his world.

He acts like an Apostolic man. A true apostolic man puts a bridle on his tongue so that he speaks a language that edifies Jesus Christ. He has put away lying, gossiping, critical words, curse words, and he uses his voice to lift up the name of Jesus Christ~ at home and at the workplace. His speech and his words do not betray his testimony.

He leads like an Apostolic man. He surrenders his self will so he can lead his family in the things of God. He loves his wife, and prefers his wife, for he has read the instructions in the Holy Book, husbands love your wives. He does not provoke his children to wrath for the same Holy Book teaches him he must be gentle unto all men. He does not drive his family, he leads them. He leads them in prayer,  he leads them in being consistent,  he leads them in submitting to authority, and he is an example to his wife and family.

The Apostolic man is not confused. The shifting winds of social change do not deter his course. He has set his sails and he is headed for the Celestial City. His mind is made up, his gait is steady, his direction unswerving. He knows who he is in an apostate world. 

The Apostolic man of 2023 accepts his role of following in the footsteps of the truly great Apostolic men of the past. It began with the Apostles, Peter, John, and Paul. It has continued now for 2000 years and the Apostolic man of 2023 is not about to drop the torch of truth on his leg of the race. 

He is not intimidated by the challenge for he is of a rare breed of men that has survived for over 2000 years, and is as strong today as it has ever been. He is a warrior in the model of Shamgar, Gideon, and David. The Apostolic man does not cower in the shadows, he steps out into the bright sunlight of his world and continues the destiny of Apostolic men for the last 2000 years.

You are an Apostolic man in 2023. Stand strong. Be brave. Walk with confidence in a changing world. 

Stand beside your Pastor and hold his hands up as we continue the march of great Apostolic men of the last two millennials. 

Our forbears all handed us a trail that they blazed as surely as Lewis and Clark made the Northwest Trek. 

Today we proclaim here to reaffirm our commitment to being an Apostolic man in 2023.

 

Zugzwang Monday, Sep 27 2021 

Uncategorized kennethbow 8:40 pm

Zugzwang, pronounced tsook-tsvahng, is a chess term. It is a situation that whatever you do you will lose something.

Chess is an interesting and worldwide game. As a consequence many words have been coined in other languages and are now used in the game of chess. Zugzwang was coined in the years 1900-1905. Zug means move or pull, while zwang means you are constrained or obligated. When this happens in the game of chess you are in a position that what ever you do you will lose something. You have no choice, you have to move, you have to do something. The challenge is always to cut your loss and get out of the mess.

It seems to me this situation occurs in real life very often. We feel trapped. There is no way to get out of our situation. We have pondered, we have prayed, and there simply is no way out. This may prove true in the game of chess, but it is never true for a child of God. I suggest there is one move that always helps. It is the portal to every dilemma, the escape to every discouragement, and every disappointing circumstance. The move I recommend when your life is in Zugzwang —is the altar.

When life has you boxed in and there is no move that is without pain or confusion or failure -a trip to the altar is what we need. Many times we want a quick fix. The time at an altar cannot be pre-dispositioned. You cannot say I’m going to the altar and I’ll have my answer in one hour. Truth is it may be days, weeks, or years as it was with Hannah, Samuel’s mother.

Look at the Bible patriarch Jacob. He had a meeting with God at Bethel. Seemed his life was determined and things were fine. Over the next 20 years his life took shape and he became a successful wealthy man. And then there was Zugzwang. If he stayed where he was he knew there was potential trouble with his father-in-law. If he left and went back to his native land there was an angry brother waiting for him. No matter what he did, something was going to be lost out of his life. We know he found his answer at Jabok. The brook Jabok was an altar. When he arrived at Jabok he was saved. When he walked away from Jabok he had escaped Zugzwang. It was at Jabok the hopeless situation was resolved.

Most of us have had our Bethel. We have been saved. We attend church regularly. Most of us are involved in our local congregations. Many times our smiles hide our Zugzwangs. We are living somewhere between Bethel and Jabok. Our jobs, our marriage, our children, our health, COVID, can all have us in Zugzwang.

Go to Jabok.

Jabok will forever change you. That one experience will mark you for the rest of your life. It is the doorway out of Zugzwang.

Thanks for reading.

 

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