"The Disciplined Life" Pt 2 - Tuesday June 23, 2026

“The Disciplined Life” Pt 2:

Normal thoughts of discipline generally turn toward correcting a child for improper behavior. Of course, the same can be applied to an adult who’s unruly, underperformed on his job or broken the law in some way. But what about self-discipline?

 

Self-discipline is the effort put forth by an individual to get healthy, stronger, lose weight, prepare for a job, test, career, or any number of things which is good for the individual’s present state and future. Self-discipline also includes the ability to control your impulses, emotions, and behaviors to achieve long-term goals.

 

It’s consistently choosing to do what you SHOULD DO, rather than what you feel like doing. Will power is a necessary component of self-discipline. Will power is the mental energy required to resist immediate temptations and distractions. Developing a disciplined life demands more than an “I want to” or “need to.” IT’S A DECISION!

 

The decisions we make today will determine where we’ll be tomorrow. “When you’re born, you look like your parents, when you die, you look like your decisions,” said Dr. Crawford Loritts.” Training for the athlete requires discipline, as does learning to play a musical instrument. Concentrated study is involved for occupations as one learns the operation of certain things. The point is, discipline requires doing things over and over and over. How does this apply to our spiritual lives?

 

As believers, we want to let our life be an example for Jesus. You’ve heard it many times, becoming a Christian is easy – living the Christian life isn’t! It takes work – lots of work that involves a personal commitment to daily disciplines. A person that works out at a gym is familiar with doing reps. It’s lifting a certain amount of weight until it becomes routine, then adding on a few extra pounds. It’s like the learning a new play in football or a new set in basketball. The play is run over and over and over until it becomes natural and easy to do.

 

Sport terms are being mentioned because they are easy to understand and make sense. The same principle must be applied to our spiritual life. Tomorrow I’ll give scripture references and disciplines that should be put into practice.

 

Pastor Carnes

"The Disciplined Life" Pt 1 - Monday June 22, 2026

“The Disciplined Life” Pt 1:

Google states, “Discipline,” is the practice of training people to obey rules or code of behavior. In a broader sense, it encompasses self-control. It also states discipline is an act of teaching proper conduct to children for future behavior. If a person lacks self-control, they are out of control.

 

What does discipline mean to you? It’s fair to say, it’s different things for different people. It certainly can apply to personal behavior and one’s conduct. It also could mean a regimented routine of training for military personnel, law enforcement officers, firefighters, athletes, and countless other things. Discipline includes time management making sure adequate time is set aside for study, forsaking certain things so effort can be put forth to reach a personal goal.

 

There’s one thing for sure. We all need discipline in our lives, especially when it comes to Christian conduct. God calls believers to a higher standard of lifestyle. He identifies this lifestyle as “holiness.” Ephesians 5:1 describes the Christian life in four simple words, “Be imitators of God!”

 

Spiritual growth comes through systematic and often sacrificial training. It’s setting spiritual goals and committing to those goals. If we’re to “imitate God,” then we better find out as much about Him as we possibly can. How does He relate to people, act under pressure, and respond when abused or criticized by others? I can promise, once you dig into God’s Word and discover what Jesus is really like, you’ll say, “ I could never live like that!” And you’re right.

 

Thankfully we don’t have to do it alone, for the more we read and study about Jesus, we discover the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit will help us. What relief to know we don’t have to fight spiritual warfare and other battles alone. But like the soldier, we must be prepared for battle every moment for they come without warning.

 

Over the next couple days, I’ll be sharing some things to help each of us develop a “Disciplined spiritual life.” Faith isn’t mystical or magical. It’s practiced obedience which allows God to form our spiritual reflexes through repetition.

 

Pastor Carnes

"Breaking the Chains of Sin" Pt 5 - Friday June 19, 2026

“Breaking the Chains of Sin” Pt 5:

Today many people feel “snared” (Proverbs 29:6), meaning held captive by a sin or sins. They feel so “entangled” (Hebrews 12:1-2) that they’ve come to believe they will never be able to escape its grasp. What they may not know is that believing this is to denounce the power of God and the promises He gives us in the Bible. Forgiveness, peace, and restoration, is not only available, but attainable.

 

Two things must take place before deliverance can happen. First, you must answer the question Jesus asked the paralyzed man, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6). Secondly, you must believe God can break the chains that are holding you captive. “If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed” (John 8:36). If want freedom, follow these 7 steps.

 

1. There must be a DEEP DESIRE. You must want whatever is holding you captive to be broken. A desire to change.
2. Seeking change will require a STRONG COMMITMENT. It’s personal and Satan won’t let you go easily.
3. HELP from OTHERS is needed. It’s okay to get professional Christian counseling. Attend therapy groups. Replace the places that tempt you with places that encourage you. A change of friends may be necessary.
4. Expect SET-BACKS. There will be times you may stumble. Failing doesn’t make you a failure. Evaluate the situation as to why you fell and make it a steppingstone rather than a stumbling block. Get up and get going!

 

5. Place complete TRUST in GOD and those sincerely wanting to help you. You don’t have to walk this road alone. Attend church services, join a small group Bible Study, find a solid Christian friend to confide in.
6. Have a VISION of what YOU can BECOME. Imagine what life will be like for you, your family, and friends. God is more interested in your future than your past..
7. Be DETERMINED! This isn’t a one-time decision; it’s a decision every morning when you get out of bed and countless decisions throughout the day. That decision? I WILL NOT give up because I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS and THERE’S NO TURNING BACK! Jesus loves you and what He’s done for others, He can do for you!

 

Pastor Carnes

"Breaking the Chains of Sin" Pt 4 - Thursday June 18, 2026

“Breaking the Chains of Sin” Pt 4:

When God created you, He gave put everything in you to lead a Christian life. There’s a reason you are here – you aren’t here by accident – you are not a mistake. You have meaning and purpose. As you’ve walked through life it’s possible some family members or friends have distorted or confused your God given purpose and somewhere along the way you lost or never found your spiritual identity.

 

While some may have led you down paths you wished you had never walked, it isn’t too late to turn around. God still loves you and His purpose for your life is still intact. You are special in His sight – a designer’s model if you please. You may feel trapped and controlled by the evil one sensing there is no hope.  Beware, for even as you read these words there are two voices speaking to you. One (Satan) is saying “You will never be able to live a Christian life. You’ve fallen to far, you’re in a hopeless situation, and everyone has given up on you!”

 

That’s the voice of evil speaking. The other voice is the God who created and brought you into this world. He knows your personal history. What you’ve experienced with family and friends. Your successes as well as your failures. He knows what you’ve done and what you should have done. Others have given up and maybe even closed a door prohibiting you from coming back. But that’s not God because He opens doors and stands with His arms spread wide.

 

“COME UNTO ME,” he says. Your life may be described like some one who said there are wild horses in me and I can’t control them. They take me places I don’t want to go. They make me do things I don’t want to do – I’m a lost cause! You may be lost, but like a sheep that’s strayed from the flock, the Good Shepherd is near and will rescue you.

 

There are three ways to deal with wild horses controlling your life. One is by letting the horses run wild claiming it’s not your fault and put all blame on others. Or deciding, “I’m my own person and I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, with whomever I want.” You have that choice, but how’s that working for you?

 

The second way is to kill the horses running rampant inside of you. But doing that will stifle your God given personality. It will also destroy any motivation to move forward and become the person God wants you to be. In a sense, destroying that personal will and grit removes the strength to face and fight the battles of evil.

 

There’s a third way of handling these wild horses – it’s GOD’S WAY!. God provides each of us with a bridle and saddle in which we can ride and control the wild horses within us. He enables us to take control of our life and helps us make right choices. Of course this is the HOLY SPIRIT! Proverbs 21:31 says, “The horse is prepared for the day of battle – but the victory belongs to the Lord.” Psalm 32:9 adds, “Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle.” Everything you need to turn your life around is available and it’s found in Christ Jesus!

 

Tomorrow will the last of this series and will give seven steps that if followed, will “Break the Chains of Sin.”

 

Pastor Carnes

"Breaking the Chains of Sin" Pt 3 - Wednesday June 17, 2026

“Breaking the Chains of Sin” Pt 3:

Proverbs 29: 6 says, “An evil man is SNARED by his own sin.” Evil is defined as profoundly immoral, wicked, or depraved behavior. It refers to actions, motives, or forces that cause deliberate harm, pain of suffering to others or themselves. Evil is the opposite of being “good.” Snared, as mentioned in Monday’s blog is the attempts of Satan to trap a person into wrongdoing.

 

There are hosts of people today wishing they could break certain habits of sin but are discouraged because several attempts of escaping that bondage has not been successful. There are lots of things that can hold a person hostage. Here are a few. Pornography, uncontrolled anger, lying, jealousy, lust, gambling, illicit sex, alcohol, drugs, abusing others verbally, or physically. There are other things that can hold a person captive wishing they could be freed.

 

Some things hold people in mental captivity that they may not consider a sin, but it is detrimental to a person’s welfare. Things like low self-esteem, feeling unworthy, loneliness, a broken heart, being forsaken by parents or other relatives, divorce, memories of being molested as a child, and the inability to forgive yourself for a committed sin. Satan is relentless. He knows a persons’ vulnerability and will attack that area of their life at every opportunity.

 

Sin may be a “snare,” but Scripture offers hope to any person feeling trapped and in a hopeless situation. Hebrews 12:1-2 is a great example; “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the SIN that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.”

 

These witnesses are references of those wonderful people mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11. They stand in testimony that God has the power and grace not only to forgive sin, but to break the chains that hold people captive setting them free. God only knows the number of people He released from bondage that were suffering what you are. There’s HOPE and POWER in the name of Jesus. You too can be set free!!

 

Pastor Carnes

 

 

"Breaking the Chains of Sin" Pt 2 - Tuesday June 16, 2026

“Breaking the Chains of Sin” Pt 2:

Why is it so easy to sin? The main reason is because we are born with a sinful nature. The second reason is because we are attracted to sin (it looks good) and we enjoy it (it’s pleasurable). Another reason is the encouragement or pressure from friends to do what they are doing. Sometimes we convince ourselves, if something is so wrong, how can it seem so right? Remember, one of Satan’s greatest tricks is deception. You can name more reasons, but the bottom line is, Satan is out to destroy us, and some sinful things become habitual leading to an addictive lifestyle.

 

A person never dreamed they would become an alcoholic by taking their first harmless drink. Popping a pill or a shot of heroin was not planned to be a lifelong thing. People – good people are in situations today fighting desperately to break the chains that hold them in bondage. Many times, I’ve said, “Sin keeps you longer than you want to stay. Sin costs more than you want to pay, and sin always takes you deeper than you intended to go!”

 

Sin always has consequences. It brings guilt and shame. It hurts your reputation and testimony. If it’s harmful to you – it also hurts those who love you. You’re also being watched by someone who will walk the path you are because of your influence (you led them astray), and sin can cause permanent damage even though you’ve been forgiven.

 

If sin is so terrible, why does a person keep engaging in it? For selfishness, personal gratification, they feel they can get away with it, there’s a sense of believing they can keep it from getting out of control, influence of peers, and often, one falls so deeply they feel can’t stop or get out of the pit. Plus, they enjoy it!

 

Some people blame God for their sinful situation thinking if He knows all things and can do all things, why did He allow them to become the person they are? We make our own decisions. We can follow God’s way or our way. Choosing our way is a recipe for disaster. God loves us and wants us to serve Him but refuses to make us do what He wants. Continuous bad choices lead us into a trap that seems impossible to get out of. If this is where you are, be on the lookout for “Part 3” tomorrow.

 

Pastor Carne

 

 

 

"Breaking the Chains of Sin" Pt 1 - Monday June 15, 2026

“Breaking the Chains of Sin” Pt 1:

Ask someone to describe a battle taking place today and a variety of answers would be given. Some would say the war in the Middle East, another the daily political battles that just won’t go away, or war on our streets and the escalation of crime and violence including assaults.  

 

All of those battles are real. I wish they weren’t, but they are. However, none of them are a battle I’m writing about today. I’m referring to a battle that’s very real and personal. A battle many people fight every day of their life. They hate it, they fight it, but often “give up” and go down in defeat much to their own dismay.

 

I’m talking about a “sin” or “sins” that is virtually ruining a persons’ life. They are in a situation and feel there’s no hope to get out of it or to conquer their vice. Proverbs 29:6 says, “An evil man is SNARED by his own sin.” To be snared means to be trapped, tempted, or lured to do something you don’t want to do. A snare is a trap used for catching birds or animals – typically one having a noose on the end of a wire or cord.

 

Prior to salvation one is at war with God. God has a set of plans for your life, and you have a set of desires that you enjoy. Consequently, this creates a battle – “God’s way or my way?” We’ve all heard this narrative over and over – “Name your enemy!” It’s said, unless you know who you’re fighting there will always be an uphill fight. This is also true in our spiritual life. Do you know who your enemy is?

 

Paul tells us, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against powers, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph 6:12). Note the word “against” is mentioned five times. People today talk about peace and how badly it’s needed, but so many do not know where it can be found. There will never be peace until a battle has been clearly won and there is a victor.

 

The Bible teaches us that Jesus defeated Satan when He died as our sacrifice for sin on the cross. Peace can be experienced, but it comes with a deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Tomorrow this relationship will be explained along with several steps that must be taken to break the chains of sin before real peace becomes possible.

 

Pastor Carnes