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Making men MEN again. The David Alliance will help you slay your giants.
Episodes
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
Ive been hearing a lot lately about a Growth mindset vs fixed mindset
The fixed mindset says this is probably as good as it gets. I will never truly be smarter or in a better place financially. I will always be tethered to problems that I am unable to truly navigate and fix. I only have the possibility of things changing by luck or simply through years of time. I am stuck with the same intelligence, talent and gifts and cannot expect any more than that. My life is mostly dependent on others and circumstances beyond my control.
The growth mindset is simply the opposite, it says I can always get smarter, better, I can always make more money. I can change my life, my circumstances my future. I am continually adapting to make life better and more fulfilling.
Followers of Christ understand this more as a Fear mindset vs. Faith mindset
I like to think of it as fishing glasses… years ago I was going on a fishing trip with a great friend who is a Musky guide and fantastic fisherman. We had everything packed to fish for days - including food. But he said I should get some polarizing fishing sunglasses… we stopped at a fishing store and they had dozens to choose from. He suggested pair A over Pairs B C D etc… But they were most expensive, I chose pair W… the cheapest ones the store had. And for a week I had to look through crappy, frustrating, loose easily scratched glasses…. that is how I saw everything….
Faith is choosing the right glasses to see things through.
I choose to see life’s problems and promises and good days and bad days through faith.
Romans 10:17
Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God… so its not a choice of I do have faith or I don’t have faith. It is an understanding of growing in faith according to how much of gods word you hear and act on.
I put on the glasses of faith by continually reading and listening to the word of God.
2 Tim. 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly studies and handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene.
study to show thyself… “not yet”. Meaning, that you don’t know everything now… not yet anyway, but you will. You don’t have all understanding or faith for this problem but you will… not yet, but I will… as you study Gods word the faith will come.
here is a secret -
The more you fully engage - the more you learn. You say I will never learn another language… maybe because you just downloaded an app or watched a few videos… but trust me, if you moved to another country were no one spoke english, you would learn that language. you are fully engaged in their culture and would almost be forced to. Milton Pope a great friend an missionary tells a story of when he and his wife moved to Argentina. Her name was Macky… she moved from the states with him to Argentina and said to her husband and others “Im not going to learn spanish, I will be fine with English”. And after 6 months she was speaking fluent spanish… why? She hadn’t planned on it, but she was immersed in spanish. she had to learn how to speak just to survive mentally and emotionally. She was full engaged even though she didn’t want to be at first.
Soooo… Fully engage in your faith.
John G. Lake probably one of the greatest faith healers in history used to take his students and send them out to different areas of the country to pray over people who were dying from various diseases - he would simply say “don’t come back until they are healed”. He fully immersed them in their journey of faith.
What if we choose to immerse ourselves in faith the same way… I am going to choose to give a million dollars to help rescue children in sex trafficking… now I will push myself and fully engage in my faith to do just that… I will not stop praying, trusting and trying until by Gods grace and my faith in him I make and give a million dollars to this cause.
How will you fully engage your faith in order to supersize your faith?
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
THINK OF IT THIS WAY… transformed mind by renewing MEANS You didn’t fail, you were transforming.
The faith mindset is always under control in the form of growing. What do I mean by that? Growing my faith can seem chaotic until I realize its sometimes chaotic so therefore I don’t see it as chaos anymore. Renewing is continued growth… and that means things will never be good enough- and aren’t I glad. I would hate to have the same level faith I had 10 years ago, or even 2 years ago. It is transforming… moving, evolving, changing, morphing… which might seem like little steps of failure, but its actually failing forward, or transforming. When the caterpillar dips himself into the cocoon, it it because he failed as a caterpillar? No - its because he is transforming into a butterfly.
But let me add one final point - faith isn’t blind, its not stupid and it doesn’t act brash to those who know God. You can have a positive mindset and still jump off a building and fall to your death, no matter how much you believe you can fly. So it is with faith. Unless your faith is backed up by Gods word and his spirit leading in you to walk that out… you may fail with all the faith in the world.
Faith does not mean foolishness… now it may seem foolish to others in what I say and what I do… but that is as far as it goes. To me, its not foolishness because I have heard Gods voice and have acted on it. I have been tested, tried and morphed into a new level of faith.
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
The enemy is so crafty that he will get people who are being deceived by the media and other influencers - he will get the deceived to stand up and defend the right of those who are deceiving them!
Everyone likes affirmation, but what we need is validation. You can be told your a good driver (wether you are or are not) (maybe they are just manipulating you to get a ride to the mall… oh I don’t trust David to drive me… but you’re a great driver) but validation comes from authority. You get a drivers license and you are now validated. Every movement outside of being a Christ follower - in todays world clamors for validation (BLM, LGBQT, Feminism, global warming pick a topic etc…) But they will never get the fathers validation UNTIL THEY KNOW HIM.. so they will forever be mad at those who do not affirm them… because once you have the fathers validation you don’t care who affirms you.
HERES A T SHIRT IDEA: God loves me… I don’t care if you do.
So know that wether someone loves you or not… don’t fall to the lie, do not allow the enemy to deceive you… and don’t clamor for the worlds validation… they can’t give you the real thing. Remember its from the authority… the ultimate authority.
Does it mean something to you when the your enemy says you are no good and of no value… what about if your Mom says you are good… what if Michael Jordan says you are good at something….
What am I getting at? If someone on the opposite team tells you that your jump shot is lacking and you need to try harder… he’s just getting in your head. If your mom says you are such a good basketball shooter… your shooting is so basket bally… ok, its nice but it still does not mean much. If you coach says nice shot… ok now were talking, but if Michael Jordan comes down from the stands after the game and says… I have seen a million jump shots in my lifetime, but you have one of the smoothest strokes, one of the cleanest shots… its fantastic. NOW THATS VALIDATION… I DON’T CARE WHAT ANYONE AFTER THAT SAYS… MJ JUST GAVE ME THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITATIVE COMPLIMENT.
Someone once asked me What is your GPA? I was a little embarrassed it wasn’t good - not because Im not smart, but more because I just didn’t care or try in high school… B UT THEN HE ASKED what is your GPA in life? The goal is to be able to answer that honestly… every day and then push harder! AND I GET WHAT HE IS SAYING… AND I AGREE TO THAT POINT… but what if are GPA stood for Gods Passion Applied
Meaning how much he gave to forgive us and how much he loved us.
Once we understand that - and its depth, we stand approved, confident and unmoved by the worlds opinion.
Eph. 3:16-20 seek to understand Gods unfathomable love for us.
Friday Mar 04, 2022
Friday Mar 04, 2022
Some people think its nuts jumping out of planes, some think its nuts free soloing or climbing, others think jumping off of cliffs into water at huge heights is…
Today i will tell you what is the most nuts of all…
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
Some people think its nuts jumping out of planes, some think its nuts free soloing or climbing, others think jumping off of cliffs into water at huge heights is…
Today i will tell you what is the most nuts of all…
You gotta be nuts if you want to have friends…
Yep, certifiably crazy, just foolish…
Here’s why…
You have to look, test, search, test, spend time… and then so many times find out they are not the type of friend you were hoping for. And this will happen hundreds of times, maybe even thousands over a lifetime. You give someone huge parts of your life and expect the same type of love or friendship in return… but alas, they walk away from you, they use you, they tell lies about you, they gossip, they steal from you, they create a selfish one way relationship and call you out as phony when you set up boundaries. They can taint and poison a whole other groups of friends that you were around. They can keep you from getting that job, that raise or even that marriage partner. They can invite the scorn and ridicule on social media by others who don’t even know you or know the whole story…
You gotta be nuts to risk having a friend.
I read a great quote in the book Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
To be free of conflict you simply must have no friends.
But maybe friendship is not what we think it is… so maybe we set ourselves up to get burned because we simply don’t understand it, or how it works.
I am going to say something crazy… and trust me, I have always considered myself as one who has thousands of friends… but sitting here at 56…almost 57, I’ve learned a few things.
You really can’t have more than 2 or 3 close friends… and you really can only have 1 best friend (outside of your spouse and immediate family)
I have always liked being popular and having lots of friends… but now more than ever I more in tune with just having a few amazing friends. Quality over quantity.
Prov. 18:24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
*what does this verse tell me? Well get rid of unreliable friends… but most importantly… a great friend is as rare as a brother. Now I have a friend who has a big family and he has 7 brothers… but still 7 is a tiny amount if you are thinking of how many true friends you can have.
I don’t think this verse is talking about the Jesus or the Holy Spirit, I think it is talking about how rare a good friend is.
What about this verse…
Prov. 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
Well I don’t have a brother… and maybe you don’t either, so does this leave us out of having a great friend during hard times? No, again it is stating that a close friend who will stick with you during thick and thin times is rare.
My best friend… wow, I could brag on him for a long time. He and I just hit it off… Now I have a few, very few amazing close friends, but only one best friend. But here was an acid test on our friendship… he called me and said “hey we are thinking of adopting and I would love for you to give the agency that is looking at us your name for a reference. I said you can but I won’t give you a good reference. He asked why… fair question right? I said, well you just moved back to the states, you have switched jobs a few times, your own family is a little stressed and disjointed, you are not sure where you are going to move or what you are going to do for work… it just seems like a chaotic environment to bring a child into. I would have to imagine there are families in more secure situations that should get that child… what do you think he said?
He said “I love you Garth Heckman”. I trust your honesty even though I don’t agree. We talked a little more, we laughed and in time he and his wife did adopt. But he never wavered on his commitment to me as a friend… or even best friend.
In certain parts of the world there are nations, cities and people groups that are terrorized by suicide bombers who wear suicide vests. These are vests loaded with explosives. They go into the most populated areas of the city and trigger the device killing themselves along with killing and injuring dozens, sometimes hundreds of people. The problem lies within trying to detect who these people are and stopping them before they detonate the bomb. There have been instances where people report suspicious activity and a soldier will shoot them without notice to save lives… only to find out that they are not wearing a vest at all. Families get upset, people are torn at what to do… so here is the step many are taking in these cities. When someone notices unusual activity or dress in another person they will run up to them and hug them yelling bomb or bomber - so that people will scatter. They hug them because they know the suicide bomber will still trigger the explosives but it will not kill as many or have as much of an impact because the person hugging him absorbs most of it… in dying… but they will also save lives. BUT If the person is not wearing a vest, the other person will thank them for their bravery…and many times seek them out as a true friend… as will everyone else. But most of the time… it is a real vest and that person will lose their life.
I think that is the best picture of what it is like to find a best friend. You find someone… You run up to them… willing to give your life to this friendship. And they may in turn kill you, your reputation your time you network your dog… and it might not end well… but there are others who might just see you as the most loyal person in the world… willing to give their life for your life.
If being nuts is having friends… than call me crazy… and pull the pull the trigger.
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
Thursday Mar 03, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
Todays world is filled with Recreational outrage. Joe Rogan Episode #1256 February 28, 2019 with David Lee Roth
Entitlement… its not fair.
Social media makes it look like anyone and everyone has the perfect life.
The guy who sold rings made out of spoons and made hundreds of thousands of dollars… why not me?
But it tricks you into thinking you are unlucky, unnoticed by God, forgotten.
But what is the truth?
Growth is the secret to the life you want… wether it is spiritually, financially, mentally, relationally… pick an area you want to succeed in and you gotta learn to grow in it.
There is NO growth without resistance. This the first law of sowing and reaping. Garth Heckman
When we pray we move into God‘s presence. When we praise he moves into ours. Here is the secret to watering your growth… when you learn something, begin to praise God for it and for the future that it brings… the future you don’t have quite yet, but know that with your effort and your growth plus faith… it will come to be.
Kenneth Copeland
Wednesday Mar 02, 2022
Wednesday Mar 02, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
Do you have a habit of breaking any traditions… you know eat pizza for Thanksgiving, open your presents on Christmas eve instead of Christmas morning… eat dessert first… well of course I am in agreement with that tradition… how about if you are a Christmas baby celebrating your birthday in the middle of the year instead of Christmas… Scandalous… and thats where we are going today.
Matthew 15:3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
[When asked why his disciples didn't do the ceremonial hand washing,] Jesus replied, "And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? For instance, God says, 'Honor your father and mother,' and 'Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.' But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, 'Sorry, I can't help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.' In this way, you say they don't need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.”
The problem comes when we begin to see our traditions as God’s requirements or use them as excuses.
In Matthew's gospel, Jesus confronted the interpretation of the law that added human traditions, rituals, and restrictions that were superficial and even directly contrary to God's will. Jesus, as Immanuel ("God is with us," Matthew 1:23), used both words and actions to show what God intended in his law. He challenged many of the accepted traditional practices and interpretations. He moved directly back to God's heart and will behind the law.
Otherwise, those who are hungering to find God get left out and those who know all the little rules and traditions can feel smug and self-righteous. Jesus came so the last could be first and the first, last. When tradition crowds out the will of God, the truth is lost, from first to last!
The word traditions isn’t just a “well thats the way we have always done it”… but has a basis of someone who gave in to pressure and now it has just become that way.
Some traditions back then Jesus just simply broke, he healed on the sabbath, he touched the leper, he spoke to a gentile scandalous women, he taught women, he applauded the heart over the act in giving…
Some traditions seem good…
Don’t listen to worldly music
Don’t see movies
Must be of this denomination or theology
Must speak in tongues
Must not speak in tongues
Don’t believe that healing is for today
Must have a priest pray over the sacraments
Must confess your sins to a priest
What about other traditions that have crept into the church….
Traditions… sleep with your girlfriend/boyfriend before you are married… well its a tradition, thats just the way it is.
Don’t really tithe…maybe a few dollars here and there… but thats just the way it is.
Don’t really read, pray or meditate on the word of God… I’m busy and well no one really does that anymore…
Don’t go to church every Sunday…
Don’t tell others about Christ…
Don’t stand up for the unborn
Dabble in pornography….
You cuss or curse or have obscene talk
You enter into gossip
For us to be true disciples, we must learn from Jesus and his word what God's will is. He reminded us in this passage that NOTHING, no teaching or tradition, should be allowed to replace the clearly stated will of God.
I was reprimanded by a church leader for giving out the sacraments when in fact I was not ordained by that denomination and it in fact was a sin to do just that… why? because that is their tradition…
Our goal as followers of Christ is to know what to follow… to know what his word says… to know what is worthy to be lived out and what is worthy to be thrown out.
You have maybe heard the story of the Young mother who is making dinner and her daughter asks why she cuts the end of the ham off before cooking it. She says, well thats what my mother did… the young girl asks her grandma… why did you cut off the end of the ham before you cooked it… she said oh dear thats so it will fit in my pan…
Look at what you are doing, and why you are doing it and ask yourself, does it line up with Gods word.
Is there a possibility that you are following some rule or tradition handed down to you by your parents, or friends or society that is slowing your walk with Christ. Its at least a worthy conversation to have with yourself.
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
Tuesday Mar 01, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
Its called the helicopter… powerlifters and olympic lifters know it all to well. It is where the weight comes up and due to imbalance - wether in your body or in your actual balance the bar starts to turn you. the bar starts turning like a helicopter blade…
Forgive -
Luke 11:4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”
interesting fact…
*There is no comma in the greek (between sentences). This is a structure in the greek that emphasizes that if we do not forgive, we feed the flesh and it becomes a heavy weight… the weight causes us to lean towards sinning/falling.
Like I said at the intro “the helicopter” the weight starts to cause you to bend and move a certain direction… thats what unforgiveness does to us when we hang on to it. The weight of hanging on to the sin… yes I said sin of unforgiveness is just teetering waiting to slowly topple us over.
My last official powerlifting meet I was in masters division 1, drug free and no gear (meaning no deadlifting suit to help) I was pulling near 700 pounds and it started to helicopter and twist in my hands turning my upper body to the right (typically due to a stronger left leg) Let me tell you, once that weight starts moving in the wrong direction it is hard to control.
And here in the Lords prayer it says it will cause us to fall into temptation. It will literally pull us into temptation… that doesn’t mean we will necesarrily sin, but I get enough temptation without making it harder on myself… so Im good with forgiving and at least cutting off that element of temptation.
But check this out… it says lead us not into temptation.
Lead = look ahead to what it will cause- announce this is what I am doing, and this is where I am heading. When my prof had us write down what would happen if we had an affair.
If consequences were immediate would we so easily fall into temptation? Twinkie = obese, drink = alcoholic,
sarcastic remark = divorce
Forgive, and look for what temptation might bring… and keep slaying giants!
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
ARE YOU SURE!
Satans scheme!
Matthew 4:3,4 Satan says “if you are the son of God”… What did satan say to Adam and eve? Did God say you really can’t eat this, he does not want you like God. temptation starts with satan questioning your position in Christ.
Matt. 4:4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
- 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Gen. 3:4 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
This honestly can only be described in one word… Ballsy. Satan is calling out Jesus… well if you are the son of God.
IF… ??? If I was Jesus I would have said… IF I wanted to just blow some lighting hot lava at you and destroy you…
If I wanted to call down all the angels in heaven and have them escort you to destruction…
If I wanted to I could turn you over my knee and spank you like your a seven year old.
IF? IF? IF?
temptation starts with satan questioning your position in Christ.
If you really were a Christian…. you wouldn’t have these thoughts, You wouldn’t be tempted, you wouldn’t fall, You wouldn’t sin, you would be more spiritual, you wouldn’t doubt your walk or your testimony…. if if if if
The story of Jesus temptation in Luke says he was tempted the full 40 days.
Jesus was tempted 40 days… 40 days of IF IF IF
Doubt will intensify temptation!
Doubting who you are in Christ will intensify temptation!
Or you might call it a lack of faith or even a lack of belief.
Romans 8:
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
This verse has no IF in it. The mindset is you are more than a conqueror.
Let me explain actually how the greek means this…
First say out loud right now “I am more than a conqueror”. Ok, that sounds pretty bold… but now say it like this.
I AM CONQUERORING SIN. IT HAS A DIFFERENT FEEL TO IT. It speaks with faith, boldness and assurance.
ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE A CONQUEROR?
of course you are!
I am conquering!
Next time satan tries to tempt you, just remind him through Gods word that you are conquering temptation, you are a conqueror!
Friday Feb 25, 2022
Friday Feb 25, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
1 Samuel 19
18 When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. 19 Word came to Saul: “David is in Naioth at Ramah”; 20 so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s men, and they also prophesied. 21 Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Seku. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?”
“Over in Naioth at Ramah,” they said.
23 So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. 24 He stripped off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why people say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Saul is the King, the authority of the land,
He is moved by God, he is prophesying, he is in a sense slain under the spirit, he is immobilized by God moving, and Saul’s spirit is obviously receptive to God…
All powerful, all authority and being moved on by God… but his mind, soul, body was still set on killing David.
Don’t trust the person just because they seem spiritual… good word today to single women who meet quote un quote Godly men and only want what they want using their spiritual pseudo mumbo jumbo to blind women. But even if you are a man and there are so called spiritual people who have ill will, ill intention for you- we see something really unique in this story. Chapter 20 goes on to show that God puts David in the midst of those who would show him favor and protect him from the enemy… wether it was the twisted king or the phillistines or any other enemy.
David finds favor from Jonathan… the kings very own son
From other men who were rejects from society, and even wanted for crimes they did not commit, the down and out and prophets… not just Samuel.
God surrounds David with the weirdest band of people to protect him, keep him, inform him and make sure that Gods will does in fact take place in Davids life.
What do we learn from this… well David was after Gods heart, he wanted to serve God, he wanted Gods will to be done and he honored King Saul never lifting a finger to harm him. And God will have his way in his life because of it. He does it in the strangest way.
maybe you are in a odd spot, surrounded by people who seemingly can’t really help you out, but because you want what God wants he redeems those around you, the relationships in your circle and network and he uses them in surreal ways to bring his will to fruition in your life. Don’t look at where you are at and judge what God wants to do by your surroundings, by the people in your life… simply trust that God wants to do more, he wants to do his will in your life… and push into him and watch what happens.
Its easy to think “how will this ever work out”
But instead learn to say
“I can’t wait to see how this will work out”
Hey Gods got this, let him in and let him do what he does best… the amazing!
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Thursday Feb 24, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
Brought to you by wellbuiltbody.com Gym Apparel for men and women that rocks and shocks and ain’t for everybody - but just might be for you. wellbuiltbody.com
F.B. Meyer once said that when you see someone in sin there are two things we do not know. First, we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin and the second thing is we do not know the power of the forces that assailed him or her…. And while that is true, we also do not know wether or not they just simply chose to sin without even fighting… actually there are a lot of things we don’t know… but what we do know is most important.
A recent survey among all ages of men and woman they ranked their greatest spiritual challenges, struggles… or you might say temptations. Here they are
Materialism
Sex/Lust
Pride
Self centeredness
Laziness
anger/bitterness
Envy
Gluttony
Lying… of course lying is at the bottom probably because people lied about it… ok, bad joke.
"reality" TV show to hit the air
in the Netherlands is "Big Diet". Six overweight men and a half-dozen
overweight women will be locked away in a castle in Houtem for 13 weeks
surrounded by 37 cameras. Each week, the person who lost the least
weight will be thrown off the show, and the winner will get the amount
of weight lost in gold. Meanwhile, their days will be filled with low-
cal diet food, workouts and temptation -- a fridge packed with their
favorite snack foods. (Reuters) ...Finally, a "reality" show that has a
bit of reality in it.
But have you ever wondered why sometimes it’s hard to not give in to temptation and why sometimes it’s easy? Here are what people said when asked why they think they sometimes give in easier than other at other times.
If they have neglected their time with God
When they are physically tired
When they are emotional
thats about it….
How did the same group say they could overcome sinning? Prayer, avoiding compromising situations, bible study and accountability.
Now this is all good to know, but have you ever wondered why we are tempted to sin… no no not because we are mad or burned out… but I mean simply what is the purpose behind being tempted? Can any good come from it?
Lets look at scripture
James 1;13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
Now hold that thought….
If we go back up a few verses it says this
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything
The word Trials in verse 2 is the same word as /Temptation in verse 13- same word
So why are we tempted… well we are fleshly human creatures… that is why. But what good comes from it? Well that is so we can become mature believers in Christ.
Mature - developed in every area… EVERY AREA!!!
Complete = finished the process of being Christ like
So temptation is a good thing if handled correctly because it makes us more like Jesus in every way.
So you wanna be more like Jesus? No… you don’t have to pray for more temptation… that will take care of itself. But you can pray for more of Gods power and his word in your heart and mind so that you can overcome it and be more like him.
See if you change your perspective it makes temptation a whole lot easier to handle and more rewarding and gratifying to succeed in!
Wednesday Feb 23, 2022
Wednesday Feb 23, 2022
Wake the Faith up Slayer… This is Garth Heckman with the David Alliance and you can reach me at
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I am a pastor, a business owner, an entrepreneur, a personal trainer, an author, speaker and a powerlifter. In all of these various roles I have one key component that I live by… You will get very little of my time if you are not passionate about something… anything really, but please be passionate… I hate wasting my time with people who are apathetic.
Col.3: 23Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
Eccl. 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
Romans 12:11 Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
What if your passion was your alarm clock? You get up and your feet hit the ground and your mind is buzzing a million miles a second with your passion.
Edmund Burke went so far as to say that Passion is the central part of human character.
But living a life of passion is hard right? What if you are not passionate about anything… what if you aren’t really good at anything? It’s gotta be hard being passionate about something if you suck at everything… or are we missing something.
the reality is that scripture does not say that passion comes from having the right goals, the right vision, the right priorities, the right plan or even the right talents or gifting. You can be Joe ordinary and live a life of passion. let me explain to you how this works.
Passion in the greek actually can mean the wide eyed wonder and awe that creates an energy to live for something… it can also mean suffering, it can also mean a strong desire to prepare for God. the point is that it is a word specifically used to describe intense emotion good or bad. But lets look at the nuance of Preparing for God.
When I was a freshman in bible college at CFNI, I was a valet. I worked clubs, high rise apartment buildings, parties and even the mall… not just any mall but the galleria. One day working at the mall a limo pulled up and it was Andy Gibb one of the brothers of the famed Bee Gee’s… you know saturday night fever etc… anyway, he was cold and his girlfriend Victoria Principal had her limo driver pull up to let him out to buy a full length fur coat. She yelled out the window… I’ll wait here honey. So the limo sat there while he went in. Well look, I am 18 years old, she was smoking hot and while she sat there all I could figure was she was staring at me and my buddy who were valeting… so we looked to impress. We lined up the keys, we re parked a few cars to make them more straight, we treated each customer who came out with class, dignity and respect. We even turned down a few tips to show that we were here to serve humanity and not just for the money…. Ok, you get the idea.
Now was she watching us from the darkened windows of the stretch limo… probably not. But who was watching us? The man himself… well the God man- Jesus. God is watching… and If I truly believe that, well then it fills all I do with passion.
Knowing we are doing it for him and he is watching us, creates an intense force in us that fuels our everyday, sometimes monotonous daily activities. Does the holy spirit help… yes, but having a why behind the spirit is even a greater motivator.
Think of the professional athlete, He has the training, the skill, the expertise in study and knowledge - right down to the muscular body to do the job… but ask any athlete what really motivates him and its two things… the prize, crown or trophy depending on what sport and the fans who are watching. Especially if there is family in the stands… especially if it is your father or mother.
So now you get it right? We get a crown if we finish well, we get rewarded if we finish well… and we also have a cloud of witnesses watching us… and God the father himself. Now if that doesn’t fire you up, you need to check your pulse! Living with passion is simply knowing who is watching and what we get in the end.