Phil 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Joseph Campbell, at Providence, RI writes

Dear Ethan and Mike,

I was trying to convince my friends that I would nail and interview for a new job and I assured them that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. They started to tell me that I was way off base and quoting that scripture wrong. If it doesn’t mean that then what does it mean?

Historical context

Out of Context Usage:

Sports: School Tests, Job Interview.

Proper use

John 14:13: What does Jesus mean when he says “anything we ask from him will be given to us”

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How do I know when to preach and when to act in front of unchurched friends?

Ebenezer Rudolph from Christmas River, North Dakota

Dear Ethan and Mike,

I recently became friends with a coworker at my job at Pretzel Time. He doesn’t know I am a Christian. My pastor is urging me to sit down and have “the Jesus talk” with him but my good friends are saying I should lead with a Godly example and not without preaching. What should I do?

Pros of living like Christ as an example.

“They will know we are christians by our love.” what does that look like in 2023

Pros of having the “Salvation Talk” with new believers

How do you bring up the salvation talk without being to awkward.

Col 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

1. God should be helping you with the next step of your new relationships
2. Acting like Jesus should not be overlooked
3. You need some communication that you want the other person to have Jesus
4. Relationship status is key, but there are some times where it is instant

The 2 greatest commandments: Matthew 22:36-40

** - When we mention the phrase “the JESUS TALK” it makes me think of a Story of the advice that was given to me when i first started talking in churches as a missionary and filling the pulpit for churches way back in the 2008s ….. Fire in Chicago, Fire and brimstone

Romans 10:9-15.

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Should I be thankful for my country?

Letter:

Joseph America of Freedom, Idaho

Dear Mike and Ethan,

I was told in my young adult class that being proud to be American is a form of idolatry because it is not God’s perfect kingdom and there is no proof that we are working with God’s plan for the world. Does that mean I can’t be thankful to live in America?

Defining our terms.

Proud.

Idolatry.

What doest though think it means to be Thankful

Pros for being thankful my country:

• Being thankful where you live is a form of honoring authority
• There are many amazingly beautiful things in my country, Grand Canyon, Desert, Mountains, Rivers, Creatures etc.
• We can’t control where we are born so we should be thankful for what we do have
• Despite your countries flaws, God has used it for his glory and goodness
• Being thankful is showing God that you recognize his good gifts
• Being miserable about your country is a different form of idolatry
• For every negative thing we hear on the news our country (and hopefully other countries) are doing lots of righteous things that are not being reported.

CONS

Possible reasons why I might not want to be thankful for my country.

• My country isn’t a Godly country.
• Internationals are often told we are a christian nation, we don’t act like it
• My country is greedy and selfish
• Our country and its leaders (like every country at some point) have done sad things.
• Old church song “This world is not my home,

This world is not my home I'm just a-passing through

My treasures are laid up Somewhere beyond the blue

The angels beckon me From heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home In this world anymore

Oh Lord, you know I have no friend like you

If heaven's not my home Then Lord, what will I do?

• Is there a difference between being grateful and being an idolator?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. (attitude)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 106:1 "Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:17

Being Thankful isn’t the same as idolatry

For all the negative things it would be foolish to say that God isn’t or can’t be doing lots in our country at the same time.

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