The Light and the Dark

Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil

Chapter 1:  Spirituality

Spirituality is about recognizing the unseen spiritual forces at work attempting to influence our decisions and direction in life.  Where there is potential for Light, there is potential for dark. Where there is potential for Good, there is potential for evil.  Where there is potential for pleasure, there is potential for pain.  It all comes down to the personal choices we make.  Every personal choice affects our reality and what we experience. 

Chapter 6:  The Battle Plan

The sin in our lives directly impacts our spiritual and physical condition, and Satan uses both against us. He will use our brokenness to squelch the Light within us.  He keeps attacking in an attempt to cause us to spiral out of control, into the darkness.  Once in the darkness, Satan wants to keep us there and continue to have his way with us.  We need to study the Bible to become more knowledgeable, but more important, we must believe the knowledge.  The Truth leads to faith, and faith is our shield.  No matter what Satan throws at us, we always have the Good News, God loves us and He is always with us.

If you find yourself losing faith and drifting toward the darkness, don’t despair.  The Light shines brightest in the darkness.  We must never stop believing that God knows everything and He is everywhere.  He embraces us in the dark to walk us out of the darkness, and back into the Light. In Acts 26:18 (NLT) Jesus says, “To open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.”

Chapter 15:  God’s Gifts and God’s Calling

God has a plan, and we are all an important part of it.  If God is a part of your life, you should be able to find joy, no matter the circumstances.  Joy is a byproduct of truly embracing our relationship with Christ.  We should be joyfully shining our Light, and inspiring those around us. The key is to depend on God in all circumstances.  It’s not about what we don’t have; it’s about what we do have.  It’s about who we are in Christ.  It’s about how we live our life.  It’s about our faith and trust in God.  This is what it means to have abundant life.

Author’s comments:  The dark can at times overwhelm us.  Lean on God to help you to see the Light.  Lean on loved ones for emotional support.  If for any reason you’re going it alone, don’t hesitate to reach out.  I would love to help!

Don’t hesitate to reach out; Bruce would love to help you grow in your spiritual journey!  To contact Bruce personally, go to battlecrygoodvsevil.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.  To get the weekly blogs, be sure to “like” and “follow” Battle Cry on Facebook.

Life's Challenges

Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil

Chapter 14:  God Is Love

Life as we know it is not always a bowl of cherries, or a walk in the park.  It can be very challenging, because we don’t know what’s around the corner.  In a split second we could encounter calamity, misfortune, hardship, or disaster that can result in pain, suffering, and sadness.  We must learn to depend on God and trust Him to love us through the challenging times of our life.  By the strength of God, we can persevere and come out on the other side stronger.  When times are good, we need to stop and enjoy every moment and thank God for His blessings.  When times are not so good, we need to lean on God, to help us through the pain, suffering, and sadness.

Philippians 1:29 (NLT) says, “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.”  Suffering a privilege?  When we encounter hardships, pain and suffering, do we think of it as a privilege?  But as Christ suffered for us, we must suffer for Christ.  Our pain and suffering connects us to His pain and suffering.  He hung on a cross and died a slow agonizing death as if He had committed unpardonable sins.  This should have been our destiny, our cross to bear, not His. Yet He took our place.  He took the burden of our sin, because God is love.  So as we suffer, we should always be reminded of how God suffered for us, because He loves us.  When we suffer, Satan wants us to embrace the darkness, but God wants us to embrace the Light.  God is the difference between the darkness and the Light.

Yes, even in our suffering we can find joy.  First Peter 1:6–7 (NLT) says, “So be truly glad.  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine.  It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.        

Author’s comments:  As we face the many trials in our life, what does it reveal about our faith?  Embracing the darkness causes us to lose faith, resulting in sadness, depression, and the feeling of hopelessness.  Embracing the Light helps us to endure and persevere through the trials, which keeps us hopeful.  How we respond to the trials in our lives reveals the Truth about our faith.   

Please don’t hesitate to reach out; Bruce would love to help you grow in your spiritual journey!  To contact Bruce personally, go to battlecrygoodvsevil.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.  To get the weekly blogs, be sure to “like” and “follow” Battle Cry on Facebook.

New Life Resolution Part 2

New Life Resolution: Part 2

If you didn’t read the last blog New Life Resolution, please go back and read it. It asks “what stops you from stepping in a new direction?” Since this is still the beginning of the New Year, I’m interested in knowing, did you start stepping in a new direction? If not, why not? Or, did you start stepping yet began having difficulty? This blog provides insight into why you might be struggling to achieve your goals.

Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil

Chapter 3:  Satan, the Enemy

Job 1:6–7 (NLT) says, “One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. ‘Where have you come from?’ the LORD asked Satan.  Satan answered the LORD, ‘I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.’”  Isn’t it interesting, Satan would be allowed to come before the Lord with the members of the heavenly court?  Then, he uses the opportunity to tell the Lord he has been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.

The continued existence of Satan and evil is evident by what we experience in our personal lives, by what we observe in the lives of those closest to us, and by what we witness going on all over the world.  One of our biggest mistakes is we marginalize Satan by lightheartedly visualizing this little figure with a pitch fork and a tail.  This depiction is false.  There’s nothing at all lighthearted about Satan.  He’s foul, cruel, and heartless.  His spiritual presence is so massive he can patrol the earth and watch everything that’s going on.  With this kind of presence, is there any wonder why he is successful at spiritually attacking and keeping us separated from God? God is love and Satan is hate. Satan’s hate is revealed in his relentless campaign of evil and darkness.  He hates that we have the opportunity to be in a loving relationship with God, and he wants us to miss it.  He wants us to fail, and fail miserably.  He wants to foster hate within each one of us.  He wants us to hate ourselves and he wants us to hate one another.

Author’s comments:  These chapter excerpts may seem to be a lot of gloom and doom when it comes to Satan and how he has his way with us.  But don’t be discouraged. Satan never has the last word because God is the Word.  God’s Word says, no matter what you’ve done, no matter how you’re labeled, you are who God says you are.  As a child of God, the Father is always there for you.  He desperately wants to be a part of your life, every single day.

Don’t hesitate to reach out; Bruce would love to help you grow in your spiritual journey!  To contact Bruce personally, go to battlecrygoodvsevil.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.  To get the weekly blogs, be sure to “like” and “follow” Battle Cry on Facebook.

New Life Resolution

Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil

Chapter 17:  I Am, My Best Friend

What stops you from stepping in a new direction?  Are you focusing too much on the big picture? Does the big picture appear to be overwhelming and unachievable?  Stop focusing on the big picture and long-term goals, and start focusing on short-term goals.  They’re not as overwhelming.  If you’re unhealthy because of what you eat, start making the effort to eat healthier.  Don’t drastically change everything in a day.  Start by cutting down on portion size. Eat less, more frequently.  Eat because you need to, not because you want to.  Stop eating dinner so late at night.  If you have a habit of late night snacking, instead of eating unhealthy sugary snacks, eat healthier snacks like fruit and nuts.  At first, cut down on late night snacking, then slowly try to eliminate it.  If you drink six sugary drinks a day, start by cutting it to five, then four, and so on.  If you’re not used to walking, don’t walk a mile, start with walking short distances.  If you’re a smoker, don’t light up another one because it’s a habit, put it off until you’re struggling and can’t put it off any longer.  Then, smoke only half.  If you drink alcohol, think about why and how much you drink.  Cut down on the frequency and the amount you consume.  Do you drink to reduce stress?  Exercise also reduces stress.  Start with light exercise. Don’t overdo it. Just make the effort to do better.  As you focus on the changes that will make you better, remember, you are in the midst of spiritual battle.  Satan is always trying to convince you, you’re not worthy.  As you try to keep yourself on track, Satan will try to influence you into thinking, you can’t do it, you’re not able. He’ll tell you that you’ll fail.  He’ll influence you to stop trying.  After you achieve your goals for a while, if you slip a little, Satan will try to influence you to give up.  He’ll walk you right back into the darkness where you started.  Instead, if you slip one day, use the strength of the Spirit to get back up again.  God will help you regain your confidence through the strength of the Holy Spirit.  You have the power of God on your side. When Satan is hitting you with an onslaught of the fiery arrows, pounding you with negativity, you have the knowledge that God is more powerful than Satan.  Through God’s strength, you can achieve anything.  Philippians 4:13 (NLT) says, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

Author’s comments:  Whatever it is you need to do, start today.  Stop putting it off.  No matter how small the steps appear, it’s the small steps that slowly but surely gets you there. You are responsible for your vessel, so start taking responsibility.  Stop looking to everyone else to make you happy, make yourself happy.  If you have health concerns, your first step should be to contact your doctor’s office. Let them know you want to start making changes. They will be excited for you.  They will gladly give you advice on how you should safely pursue a healthier and better you.

Don’t hesitate to reach out; Bruce would love to help you grow in your spiritual journey!  To contact Bruce personally, go to battlecrygoodvsevil.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.  Be sure to “like” Battle Cry on Facebook.

God’s Perfect Vision

Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil

Chapter 11:  Prayer

Our foresight can be very blurry, because we lack the clarity to know what to do in every situation. But our hindsight is always clear.  We can look back on our decisions and clearly see what the right choice was, and what we should have done differently.  God’s foresight is never blurry, it’s perfectly clear.  He is perfect, so therefore, His vision and plans for us are perfect.  God’s perfect vision directly impacts our imperfect prayer life.  It determines the outcome of prayer.  This is where our faith and trust in God are rooted.  It’s how we experience God’s peace, no matter the circumstances.  Because tomorrow isn’t promised, don’t take any day for granted.  Start every new day prayerfully thanking God for the opportunity.  Let Him know how you’re looking forward to what the new day will bring.  As you pray, keep mindful of God’s power, God’s love, and God’s grace.  Ask Him for forgiveness where you fail Him.  It’s powerful to end all prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.  The more sincere, personal, and heartfelt the prayer, the more likely you will be in agreement with the Spirit, and the will of God.  This keeps you focused on what’s most important, because your will is not always in agreement with the will of God.  Don’t be discouraged when you don’t get what you pray for.  Just because you want something, doesn’t mean you’ll get it.  Your desires can be in conflict with God’s will.  It’s about His timing, not yours.  James 4:3 (NLT) says, “And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” God knows what’s best for you. You must trust Him, give the control to Him, and have the faith to believe He’ll give you what you need, when you need it.  You must be patient, because His timing is perfect.  Psalm 27:14 (NLT) says, “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous.  Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

Author’s comments:  Don’t make impromptu New Year’s resolutions!  These are usually long term goals that overwhelm you and set you up for failure.  Instead, make New Life resolutions!  These are short term goals that don’t overwhelm you, are achievable, and set you up for success.  For more information on how to make New Life resolutions, go to the website and I’ll post excerpts from Chapter 17:  I Am, My Best Friend.          

Please don’t hesitate to reach out; Bruce would love to help you grow in your spiritual journey!  To contact Bruce, go to battlecrygoodvsevil.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.  Be sure to “like” Battle Cry on Facebook.

It's The Night Before Christmas

 It’s the night before Christmas and all the shopping is done.

It’s time to stop stressing and reach for the Son.

Don’t let the world distract you from Him.

Losing sight of the Light would be a shame and a sin.

The true meaning of Christmas is not money well spent.

It’s the free gift of the Son, who the Father has sent.

So tonight let’s remember the reason we sing.

It’s to celebrate the birth of our Savior and King!

Author’s comments: Luke 2:8-12 (NLT) says, “That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.  They were terrified, but the angel reassured them.  ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said.  ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.  The Savior—yes the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!  And you will recognize him by this sign:  You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.’” 

The savior’s birth is the Truth and tomorrow we celebrate.  Don’t miss this opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ today, tomorrow, and everyday! 

If you’re in need, don’t hesitate to reach out; Bruce would love to help you grow in your spiritual journey!  To contact Bruce personally, go to battlecrygoodvsevil.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.  Be sure to “like” Battle Cry on Facebook.

It's The Night Before Christmas

 It’s the night before Christmas and all the shopping is done.

It’s time to stop stressing and reach for the Son.

Don’t let the world distract you from Him.

Losing sight of the Light would be a shame and a sin.

The true meaning of Christmas is not money well spent.

It’s the free gift of the Son, who the Father has sent.

So tonight let’s remember the reason we sing.

It’s to celebrate the birth of our Savior and King!

Author’s comments: Luke 2:8-12 (NLT) says, “That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.  They were terrified, but the angel reassured them.  ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said.  ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.  The Savior—yes the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!  And you will recognize him by this sign:  You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.’” 

The savior’s birth is the Truth and tomorrow we celebrate.  Don’t miss this opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ today, tomorrow, and everyday! 

If you’re in need, don’t hesitate to reach out; Bruce would love to help you grow in your spiritual journey!  To contact Bruce personally, go to battlecrygoodvsevil.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.  Be sure to “like” Battle Cry on Facebook.

Christ in Christmas

Christ in Christmas

Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil

Chapter 20 Saul of Tarsus Becomes the Apostle Paul:

Paul says in Second Corinthians 5:17–20 (NLT), “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.  The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ.  And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.  For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.  And he gave us the wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.  We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’”  If we don’t embrace this task of reconciling people to God, who will?  What makes you think you are different than any of the characters in the Bible? Why would you think you’re not worthy? Why would you think it can’t be you?  No matter where you are in your spiritual walk, you need to keep striving to be the best you can be, in Christ.  You need to shine your Light to become that beacon of hope for others.  Don’t miss your opportunity to be an ambassador for Christ.

Author’s comments:  If you truly belong to Christ, your old life is gone and your new life has begun, and God is making His appeal through you.  During this special time, by keeping Christ in the forefront of Christmas, your Light can truly shine.  After all, Christmas cannot exist without Christ.

Don’t hesitate to reach out; Bruce would love to help you grow in your spiritual journey!  To contact Bruce personally, go to battlecrygoodvsevil.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.  Be sure to “like” Battle Cry on Facebook.

You Are the Light of the World

You Are the Light of the World

Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil

Chapter 1 Spirituality:

No matter how spiritually developed we become, we do not have the intellectual ability to understand everything spiritual, and everything God.  If we are influenced into thinking we have developed such a level of understanding, this thinking would never come from the Spirit of Truth.  This is important to understand because as we share the love of God, we must remain humble.  It’s what attracts those interested in God to pause and listen.  Jesus says in Matthew 5:14–16 (NLT), “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.  Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”  Our Light shines by what we say, but it shines brightest by what we do.  When the opportunity becomes available, we must be willing to share Christ in a heartfelt and personal way.  Witnessing in the workplace, or while hanging out with friends is important, yet most fail to make the effort.  When the opportunity to witness becomes apparent and fear rears its ugly head, Satan will use that fear to cause us to miss the opportunity.  We become a tool of Satan, instead of an instrument of God.  God wants us to use every opportunity to be a witness for Christ and further the Kingdom of God.

Author’s comments:  Jesus says in Matthew 10:32-33 (NLT), “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.”  Think about this the next time you allow your fear to cause you to miss an opportunity to witness for Christ.   

If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out; Bruce would love to help you grow in your spiritual journey!  To order the book, read blogs, or contact Bruce personally, go to battlecrygoodvsevil.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.  Be sure to “like” Battle Cry on Facebook.

Fear of the Lord and Respect

Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil

Chapter 18 Fear of the Lord:

Fear is a reverent respect for God’s authority.  It’s the fear of the consequences, when we don’t follow the Spirit’s lead and fail to obey an all-knowing and all-powerful God.  Proverbs 19:23 (NLT) says, “Fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.”  Luke 1:50 (NLT) says, “He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.”  Some people have the attitude that nobody should be telling us what to do, or dictate how we live.  Some confuse freedom with the right to act the way they want.  With respect to governing authorities, the structure of society in which we live, is founded on God.  In Mark 12:17 (NLT) Jesus said, “Well then, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”  Rules and regulations are set forth to keep us safe and help us prosper.  Without rules or regulations, social and civil order would be at risk.  Romans 13:1–2 (NLT) says, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities.  For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.”  How often do we stop and think about what God is trying to accomplish through those in positions of authority?  How often do those in positions of authority think about what God is trying to accomplish through them?  

God wants us to fear authority.  Fear is a sign of respect, knowing we will be held accountable for our actions.  When we fear the Lord, parents, teachers, and police, it’s a sign of respect for their authority.  Romans 13:3–5 (NLT) says, “For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong.  Would you like to live without fear of the authorities?  Do what is right, and they will honor you.  The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good.  But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you.  They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.  So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.”  Is what we see going on in the world today an indication we respect those in authority as God’s servants?   

Author’s comments:  Let’s get real.  There are some people in positions of authority who do not act like God’s servants.  They abuse their authority and do not deserve respect.  But even if we don’t respect the person in the position of authority, we must maintain respect for the position.

If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out; you could win a free book.  Bruce would love to help you grow in your spiritual journey!  To order the book, read blogs, or contact Bruce personally, go to battlecrygoodvsevil.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.  Be sure to “like” Battle Cry on Facebook.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving

Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil

Chapter 5:  The Fiery Arrows of the Devil:

Satan wants us to think we always get the short end of the stick.  He wants us to focus on what we don’t have, rather than what we do have.  He never wants us to be satisfied or content.  He wants us to be bitter and resentful.  He wants us to see our glass half empty, instead of half full. When we focus on what we don’t have, we develop a spirit of bitterness and resentment.  When we focus on what we do have, we develop a Spirit of thankfulness.

Chapter 8:  War Wounds and Battle Scars:

Our dependence on God, our relationship with Christ, and our thankful heart, provides the opportunity to show our family, our friends, our neighbors, and the world, there is so much more to us than what meets the eye.  When we rise above adversity, pain and suffering, our resolve and strength causes those observing to wonder how we can maintain such a positive attitude, when everything seems to be going so wrong.  Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  When people observe us, they should see our strength of Spirit and our peace in Christ.  

Chapter 9:  Faith

If we want to further strengthen our faith, we must acknowledge God in how we have survived, multiplied, and evolved, since the beginning.  Not only do we continue to survive, but thanks to our God-given ability to make life-changing discoveries, we are blessed with comforts, many take for granted.  We get to enjoy the daily comforts of air conditioning and heating.  With a flick of a switch, let there be light.  There’s food available by stopping at a grocery store, or restaurant.  With the simple turn of a faucet, we are blessed with running water.  What blessings, right?  There are a lot of people who don’t get to enjoy all the comforts others do, but overall, as a human race, we have evolved beyond what we thought possible.  But nothing is impossible with God.

Author’s comments:  We have so much to be thankful for, so when you find yourself worrying, replace your thoughts of worry with thoughts of thankfulness. A thankful Spirit finds God’s peace. ­

If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.  Bruce would love to help you grow in your spiritual journey!  To order the book, read blogs, or contact Bruce personally, go to battlecrygoodvsevil.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.  Be sure to “like” Battle Cry on Facebook.

Acts of Pure Evil

“Acts of Pure Evil”

Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil, Introduction:

When we consider how often we are shocked, disgusted, sickened, and horrified by another mass shooting, we can no longer deny the existence of evil.  Even law enforcement representatives, and the media, refer to these horrific acts as “acts of pure evil.”  Although God is seldom mentioned or discussed, it seems most would agree, evil does exist.  We must stop ignoring the obvious signs.  We have a problem, and it’s spiritual.  When someone’s behavior indicates they are struggling with a conflict within, family members, friends, or schoolmates, must either make the effort to help this person, or take the necessary action to report their behavior to someone who can.  We must not continue to allow someone to cross over the line between what’s right and wrong, good and evil.

Author’s comments:  Can we label something evil yet not admit the devil is involved?  We need to start doing a better job of evaluating how spiritual warfare is playing a part in these horrific acts.  Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) says, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”  First Peter 5:8 (NLT) says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.  He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”  Can we deny the evil associated with the hatred and rage in response to religion, skin color, sexual preference, and politics?  Watch the news, surf the internet, or simply observe other people and the choices being made. Do we see the love of God, or the hate of Satan? We all have the right and the freedom to choose. Choose Love. Choose Light. Choose God.

If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.  Bruce would love to hear from you!  To order the book, read blogs, or contact Bruce personally, go to brucedillender.com, battlecrygoodvsevil.com, or battlecrythebook.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.  Be sure to “like” Battle Cry on Facebook to receive blogs and information from Bruce.

Either way, it's time!

Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil, Chapter 4 The Mind Is the Battlefield, the Heart Is the Fort

Every day we are challenged by a multitude of spiritually influenced choices that profoundly affect our lives.  The spiritual conflict that takes place in the brain during the decision-making process is what makes the mind the battlefield.  The decisions we make and the action we take ultimately affect the heart.  If our focus becomes about immediate gratification, usually tied to earthly pleasures, Satan will win that battle.  If our focus becomes about the Spirit and what God wants for our lives, we will win that battle.  First Peter 5:8–9 says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.  He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.  Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.”  He’s the enemy.  He wants to devour.  He’s spiritually attacking our family of believers all over the world.  Doesn’t this shed Light on why there’s so much darkness and suffering?

Author’s response:  By not believing the devil and evil exists, when he spiritually attacks, you won’t be aware, and you certainly won’t be prepared to defend yourself.  This makes you completely vulnerable.  As you witness what’s going on in the world today, can you deny the evidence supporting the existence of evil?  If you’re a believer, it’s time to face the Truth.  If you’re a skeptic, it’s time to take a Good look.  Either way, it’s time! 

If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out; Bruce would love to help you!  To order the book, read blogs, or contact Bruce personally, go to brucedillender.com, battlecrygoodvsevil.com, or battlecrythebook.com.  “Like” Battle Cry on Facebook.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes. 

Tool of Satan or Instrument of God?

Tool of Satan or Instrument of God?

Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil, Chapter 1 Spirituality:

Our Light shines by what we say, but it shines brightest by what we do.  Life usually becomes more difficult because of the ungodly choices we make.  For that, we have only ourselves to blame.  Yet we are so quick to blame and cuss God when nothing seems to be going our way, or the way we think it should.  Are we as quick to praise and thank God when everything seems to be going our way, or the way we think it should?  Our response to the ups and downs of life is a reflection of our spiritual condition.  Even when things don’t seem to be going well, if we are strong in Spirit, we can still see the positive and good in our life.  Witnessing in the workplace, or while hanging out with friends is important, yet most fail to make the effort.  When the opportunity to witness becomes apparent and fear rears its ugly head, Satan will use that fear to cause us to miss the opportunity.  We become a tool of Satan, instead of an instrument of God.  God wants us to use every opportunity to be a witness for Christ and further the Kingdom of God.  

Author’s comments:  Jesus says in Matthew 5:14–16 (NLT), “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.  Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”  What do your personal choices say about your Light?  What do your responses to the ups and downs of life say about your spiritual condition?  What are you doing for the Kingdom?

If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.  Bruce would love to help you!  To order the book, read blogs, or contact Bruce personally, go to brucedillender.com, battlecrygoodvsevil.com, or battlecrythebook.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.

Fear

Fear

Excerpts from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil, Chapter 5 The Fiery Arrows of the Devil: 

Satan uses the fiery arrows of fear to spiritually attack.  Fear can paralyze, causing us to fall short of attaining our goals and dreams, or to ignore God’s calling and God’s purpose for our life.  Fear can cause us to stop trying and to give up.  Sometimes we can find ourselves so deep in the pit of despair that we have difficulty just crawling out.  We can become so accustomed to how we feel; we accept our reality as our fate, our destiny.  Satan uses fear to keep us within our self-perceived, self-imposed comfort zone.  Instead, we should be using the power of the Holy Spirit to set ourselves free from fear, to step out of our comfort zone.  We need to combat fear to fulfill the plans God has for our lives.  To combat fear, we must rely on the strength of the Spirit for courage.  Philippians 4:13 (NLT) says, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

Author’s comments:  Jesus says in Matthew 10:32–33 (NLT), “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.”  Think about this the next time you allow your fear to cause you to miss an opportunity to witness for Christ.  We need to combat fear to fulfill the plans God has for our lives.  When we are fearless in the way we show our love for God, it gives other people an opportunity to see our Light.  We should not allow fear to keep us from shining our Light.  We are all responsible to further the Kingdom of God.  

If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.  Bruce would love to help you!  To order the book, read blogs, or contact Bruce personally, go to brucedillender.com, battlecrygoodvsevil.com, or battlecrythebook.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.

He is alive, He is risen, He is user friendly!

Excerpt from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil, Introduction

God is, and always has been, a loving God of relationship. Although God’s Word reveals His love for us, His action speaks louder. Because we couldn’t save ourselves, He took action by sending is one and only Son to die for us and save us. Because we are weak in Spirit and predisposed to follow our sinful nature, He took action by sending the Holy Spirit to provide spiritual strength and guidance. Because He wants us to know and feel His love, He continues to take action by pursing a personal relationship with us.

Author’s comments: Why do we want to make God and religion so complicated? God is for us. Reach out to Him. He is alive, He is risen, He is user friendly. Don’t you think He’s done enough?

If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.  Bruce would love to hear from you!  To order the book, read blogs, or contact the author personally, go to brucedillender.com, battlecrygoodvsevil.com, or battlecrythebook.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes. Be sure to like the Battle Cry Facebook page to follow Bruce’s blogs and posts.

It's Not What You Know. It's Who You Know! Do You Know God?

It’s Not What You Know.  It’s Who You Know!

Do You Know God?

Excerpt from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil, Chapter 13, Knowing God:

Getting to know someone is a process.  It’s how relationships develop.  It starts with an encounter at work, school, the neighborhood, church, or a social activity.  Once we discover common interests with others, it results in the desire to spend more time together.  Over time relationships are formed, but they’re shallow, and they should be.  A shallow relationship doesn’t mean it isn’t good, it simply means it isn’t deep.  It provides an opportunity to just hang out and have fun, without all the drama.  As you spend more time with someone, you can then decide whether you are interested in a deeper, more meaningful relationship.  If so, you must be willing to invest the time and effort needed, to gain insight into their true character.  If your relationship with God remains shallow and fails to develop into a trusting and loving friendship, you can’t say you didn’t have the opportunity to know God’s true character.  Here’s some irony for you. God knows your true character, yet He pursues you anyway.  He pursues you because He knows you are a work in progress.  He’ll never give up on you.  Isn’t this the kind of loving relationship you should be pursuing with all your heart?  Why in the world would you want to miss this? Why wouldn’t you want to invest whatever time and effort it takes to get to know Him better?

Author’s comments:  Because action speaks louder than words, God’s true character is revealed by His action. He sent His Son to die on the cross, to pay for our sin, to give us the opportunity to be back in a relationship with Him.  He raised Christ from the grave, showing us the way to spiritual life eternal.  He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us.  God’s true character is not only revealed by what He did for us, it’s revealed by what He continues to do for us.  This should spiritually inspire and motivate us to pursue a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Him.  The Bible, the Word of God, is the key to unlocking the mystery of spirituality through faith.  We must be willing to use this God-given key.

If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.  Bruce would love to hear from you!  To order the book, read blogs, or contact the author personally, go to brucedillender.com, battlecrygoodvsevil.com, or battlecrythebook.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.

Relationships Are a Two-way Street

Relationships Are a Two-way Street

Excerpt from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil, Chapter 1, Spirituality:

When we accept Christ as our personal Savior, we begin a personal relationship with a living, loving, and almighty God.  If you’re making little or no effort in the relationship, how would you expect the relationship to grow?  Is this the way you approach your earthly relationships?  Relationships are a two-way street.  No relationship can flourish without an effort from both participants.  Fortunately, God has fully and completely done His part.  It’s up to each of us to do ours.  Our part is to first choose Christ.  Then, we must make the personal effort to spend time with Him and His Word.  We can then experience how the Spirit will move in each of us.  First Corinthians 6:19–20 says, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?  You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.  So you must honor God with your body.”  Do we consider and treat our bodies as a temple, a shrine, a sanctuary, a holy place?  Do we give any thought at all to the high price Christ paid by physically dying on the cross?  Instead, don’t we just take our bodies for granted?  So if you don’t feel the Spirit, if you don’t feel His Love, who is failing to make the effort, God or you?  Don’t you think He’s done enough? 

Author’s comments:  If you have the habit of comparing your walk with Christ to what you think others are experiencing, stop doing that.  Everybody’s walk is uniquely different.  We all find God at different times, different ages, and different circumstances.  Some find God when they are children, others as teenagers, and some as adults.  Sadly, some never find God at all.  It’s not as important when you find God.  What’s most important is that you do eventually find Him. Physical death without God is spiritual life eternal without Him!

If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.  I’d love to hear from you!  To order the book, read blogs, or contact the author personally, go to brucedillender.com, battlecrygoodvsevil.com, or battlecrythebook.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.

The Spiritual Realm

The Spiritual Realm

Excerpt from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil, Chapter 1, Spirituality:

To understand spirituality and what it means to be spiritual, we must be able and willing to acknowledge the influence of the unseen spiritual world and its effects on the seen world. Although God and Satan are both a part of this same unseen spiritual world, we have little hesitation to acknowledge the influence of God, but have difficulty acknowledging the influence of Satan.  If you believe in one, you must believe in the other.  When we think about God, we usually envision Jesus Christ.  This causes us to equate the size of God with the size of Jesus. When we apply this same logic to Satan, we envision this character with a pitch fork and pointed tail.  This couldn’t be further from the Truth.  The size and complexity of God, Satan, and the spiritual realm, is beyond what we can comprehend or imagine.

Author’s comments:  Genesis 1:1–2 (NLT) says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.”  God is so massive, He created the heavens and the Earth, He hovered over the surface of the waters, and He can live in every one of us at the same time.  The spiritual massiveness of God should put the spiritual size of Satan into perspective.  But there’s Good News.  The power of God is greater than the power of Satan!

To learn more, please go to my website.  If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, reach out to me.  I’d love to reach out to you!         

To order the book, read blogs, or contact the author personally, go to brucedillender.com, battlecrygoodvsevil.com, or battlecrythebook.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.

WE Have A Spiritual Problem

We Have a Spiritual Problem

Excerpt from Battle Cry Good vs. Evil, Introduction:

We all struggle with sin in our lives, but it appears we are reaching new lows.  We continue to shun God, and it’s becoming more obvious, we couldn’t care less about what He thinks or feels.  We’ve allowed the efforts of some to become the reality of many. We’ve lost prayer in school, and we’re slowly losing Christ in Christmas.  There’s even talk about removing “In God We Trust” from our currency.  We’re evolving into something more difficult to recognize as “Godly.”  Hate and violence have become the common response to the major issues facing society today.  When we consider how often we are shocked, disgusted, sickened, and horrified by another mass shooting, we can no longer deny the existence of evil.  Even law enforcement representatives, and the media, refer to these horrific acts as “acts of pure evil.”  Although God is seldom mentioned or discussed, it seems most would agree, evil does exist.  We must stop ignoring the obvious signs. We have a problem, and it’s spiritual.

Author’s comments:  Matthew 9:10–13 says, “Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.  But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with such scum?’  When Jesus heard this, he said, ‘healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.’ Then he added, ‘Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.’”  Do you think you are righteous, or do you know you are a sinner?  Does the thought of you being spiritually sick bother you?  Well it shouldn’t.  If you can admit you are a sinner, then Jesus is calling you.  That’s a good thing, right?  Are you ready to answer the call?  To learn more, please go to my website.  If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, reach out to me.  I’d love to reach out to you!         

To order the book, read blogs, or contact the author personally, go to brucedillender.com, battlecrygoodvsevil.com, or battlecrythebook.com.  Battle Cry Good vs. Evil is available in paperback or eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.