Steven Garofalo
Spirituality/Belief • Education • News
THREE ACTION POINTS TO START EACH DAY WELL
By Steven Garofalo, December 1, 2023 (Copyright 2023)
December 01, 2023

Each day that God gives us in our life is a day with choices. Each day starts with the singular choice how “HOW” we start that day.

Today, I am going to give you three simple but connected action points as to how to start each day-starting today forward. If you do this, your day will be more focused on the hope of God and less on the depressed state of the world in the present. Let’s get started.

The unlisted author thought to be King David said, “Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!” (1 Chronicles 16:8). If we look carefully, God gives us three actions points through this very short verse. Let’s break this down and apply it to our life today forward.

  1. FIRST: GIVE WE SHOULD START EACH DAY BY GIVING THANKS TO THE LORD: We live in a crazy world that seems relentless in tearing the faith from every believer. The evil one and his demonic crew seeks to do this to any and all Christians that he can get a hold of. Yet we stand strong in our faith-so let’s give thanks to God for that. We need not stop there. Think about all that God has done for you personally. How He has protected, provided and blessed you and your family. We can give thanks for our health and/or the years of health the Lord has given us over our life time. It’s all perspective which can be and ought to be turned into ACTION. And our first action point for today is to give THANKS to the Lord.
  2. SECOND: LET’S START EACH DAY BY CALLING UPON THE NAME OF GOD: Let’s make sure to rise early each day and call upon His name. This is an important one because it moves the needle up a bit from saying thank you to expending greater energy in CALLING upon His name. This is an act of worship whereby we ask God to come closer to us this day. Within the context of the vers and 1 Chronicles 16, this connotes the idea of calling upon Yahweh and not upon the idols and false gods of the nations. Yahweh, the biblical God (alone) deserves to be called to praise and is the only God that we are to rely upon.
  3. THIRD: We are to “Make known his deeds among the peoples”. This speaks to David who will recount the amazing deeds God has done in the sight of all peoples, and he encouraged all who heard him to do the same. In return, God’s people should talk of all His wonderful works! This is just as true for us today as it was back when David uttered these words. Let’s take a closer look at 1 Chronicles 16:8 to get a more biblical perspective of what God is telling us in this passage.

"Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!” (1 Chronicles 16:8).

CONTEXT: To give some context to 1 Chronicles 16:8, we must zoom out to get the bigger picture. In a nutshell, this is recorded as King David’s Song of Thanks after they had brought the Ark of God back to Jerusalem and set it inside the tent David had pitched for it and had offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.

The fact that this psalm (through vs. 36) consists, with slight variations, of Psalm 105:115; 96; and 106:1, 47-48, perhaps indicating that David in fact was their author (though listed anonymously in the Psalter which is a copy of the biblical Psalms used  for liturgical use in Church worship).

WHAT IS GOING ON? In 1 Chronicles 13:1-14 David brings the Ark to Childon re: Uzza’s death. David’s fame and victory over the Philistines are outlined in 14:1-17. David then brings the ark to Jerusalem in 15:1-29. And finally, in 1 Chronicles 16:1-43 we have David’s celebration and arrangements for the ark.

IN SUMMARY AND SO WHAT! Today, we looked at 1 Chronicles 16:1-43 which outlines David’s celebration and arrangements for the ark. In Chronicles 16:8, the Psalmist gives the call to praise, employing several imperatives: First, to “GIVE THANKS”. Second, to “CALL UPON HIS NAME”. And Third, to “MAKE KNOWN HIS DEEDS AMONG THE PEOPLES”. The latter can be expressed through song. As for you and I-we can sing, speak, glorify God, seek, and remember Him rightly (16:8-13). For the Chronicler the keynote of this praise is found in 16:11 in the imperative to “SEEK THE LORD AND HIS STRENGTH’ SEEK HIS FACE CONTINUALLY”. And continually means just that-continually; meaning that we never stop seeking God’s face, praising Him, and making Him known among all peoples He brings us in contact with; showing His great deeds from the biblical text and perhaps our personal life in an effort to lead some if not many to Him and salvation through Jesus Christ.

Each day that God gives us in our life is a day with choices. Each day starts with the singular choice how “HOW” we start that day. And these three biblical action points can serve us well in starting each day well for God and those He brings into our lives daily.

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When I was in seminary, the question was raised as to if pets or animals in general go to heaven. Our professor, Dr. Norman Geisler said this: “Jesus Christ came to earth and died on the Cross for the human race, not animals.” I was working out at the gym one day when one of the regulars, who had just moved to Charlotte, NC from California told me that one of her beloved dogs died; and would that dog go to heaven. I have her the same answer. But, was that the whole story? That’s what we are going to look at today.

In a peace by Michael Housman, Founder of GotQuestions.Org, Housman wrote that “The BIble does not give any explicit teaching on whether pets or animals in general have souls, or spirits, or whether pets and other animals will be in heaven.

His answer was short but the animals not having souls maybe up for debate.

We can use general biblical principles to develop some clarity on the subject though Housman wrote. The Bible states that both man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 1:30; 6:17; 7:15 and 22) have the “BREATH OF LIFE” that is, both man and animals are living beings. Furthermore, the primary difference between human beings and animals is that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), while animals are not.

Being made in the image and likeness of God means that human beings are like God in some ways; they are capable of spirituality; they have a mind, emotion, and “will”; and part of their “being” continues after death.

If pets and other animals do have a “soul” (or spirit or immaterial aspect), it must therefore be of a different and lesser “quality”. This difference possibly means that pets and other animal “souls”  do not continue in existence after death.

Another factor to consider regarding whether pets will be in heaven is that animals are a port of God’s creative process in Genesis. God created the animals and said they were good (Genesis 1:25). Therefore, there is no reason why there could not be pets and animals on the NEW EARTH as described in (Revelation 21:1). 

In the end, there will most definitely be animals during the millennial kingdom (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25). It is impossible to say definitely whether some animals of these animals might be the pets we had here on earth. We do know that God is just and that when we get to heaven, we will find ourselves in complete agreement with His decision on this issue, whatever that turns out to be.

So, there you have it. I think that’s the best answer on the subject in all honest. Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to our channel and check out StevenGarofalo.Com for exclusive content and early release of our two weekly podcast.

Until next time, I’m your host Steven Garofalo, and this is your reason for truth for today.

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AN ETHICAL ECONOMY IS GOOD FOR ALL
By Steven Garofalo, May 2, 2025

WHAT MAKES A GOOD ECONOMY

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Today, I am going to show you through Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 that vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, will devour one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Let’s get started.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor is an interesting subject in light of wealth, corruption, and the human heart. This subject effects many things, including what makes a good economy. 

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, verses eight to nine, Solomon says the following:

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9
“8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

COMMENTARY: There are two things king Solomon is saying here within the theme of the vanity of WEALTH and HONOR. Wealth and honor are two different things, as one can have wealth with or without honor or honor with or without wealth. That being said, let’s look at verses 8 and 9 independently to see the simple message God provides us today through Solomon.

BREAK DOWN
Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY & WEALTH
 “8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them." 

COMMENTARY: Verse 8 clearly illustrates that there is a corruption at every level of government, with higher level oppressors plundering the equally oppressive lower-level magistrates. This perhaps explains the st state of America and the world. With blackmail running. Rampant and the public sector unchecked, they have been robbing the everyday citizen of their hard earned money. As a result, the system became insulated and division between the haves and have nots became more defined. When the high level government officials rob and abuse those below them, someone above that person robs and abuses the higher level person himself.

In America, where we print money out of thin air for the world, in this short period of history, there is little need to plunder those under one authority because there is so much to steal that those in authority can simply pay them off or blackmail them; whichever is most convenient. Either way, Solomon makes abundantly clear that when there is nobody minding the ship, evil perpetuates to the point of overtaking the government in whole. As a result, we end up with a 2024 government, riddles with corruption, immorality, blackmail, lawlessness, and all other things evil due to the lack of God-ness which equates to “goodness”. 

Economically speaking, when this happens to a country, its own economy begins to decline into debt due to their insatiable desire and emotional need for more money and resources. When resources are stripped and money is squandered, the elite few are smart enough to collect those resources and money and we end up with a U.S. Stock Market where only 5% holds up to 80%  of the entire market wealth. 

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?
The answer and solution is to keep to return to the system we created in the first place which is free market capitalism that allows those who desire to work hard, to have a fair chance at success, making money and turning a fair profit. This is called “honor for everyone”.

HONOR FOR EVERYONE
"9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

CONCLUSION:

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, devours one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Solomon (Qohelet) considered goverment to be frustrating becuase it was a necessary evil, something deply flawed but indespsnsible. On the one hand people sould "not be shocked" when they see OPPRESSION and injustice in a governmental province (v.8). After all, bloated government bureaucracy tends to frustrate justice (v.8b). On the other hand, government has it advantages (v.9). Many hold to the belief that this verse continues the negeative assessment of government. Others see this passage better understood more positively since it fits with Qohelet's normal pattern of "on the one hand, on the other.." way of teaching. 

Even a corrupt government is better than anarchy, which devastates a country, it's culture and in Solomon's time, an agrarian economy that would lead to starvation. Keeping to God's ways is the only solution to man's sinful nature; especially in governmental rule. In the end, a king who devotes himself to developing the resources of the land ushers in a systems that brings the opportunity for profit to all, not just the corrupt few.

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SOLA SCRIPTURA
A Protestant & Catholic View Comparison

I grew up Catholic and now go to a Protestant or non-Catholic church in Charlotte, NC. Michael Houdmann, Founder and CEO of GotQuestions.Org writes that a major difference between the two boils down to believing in the Bible alone as God's word verses believing that God's word plus man's input as the divine inspired word of God.

WHAT DO PROTESTANTS BELIEVE?

A major difference is the issue of sufficiency and authority of Scripture. While Protestants believe that the Bible alone is the source of God's special revelation to mankind, it also speaks to everything we need to understand as necessary for our salvation from sin.

Protestants view the Bible as the STANDARD for Christian morality and ethics which governs our behavior. This is called sola scripture and is one of the five Solas in Christianity. (Solas meaning "alone" in Latin. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes clear that "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV).

WHAT DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE?

Catholics do not believe in sola scriptura hence do not believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. They see both the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic tradition as equally authoritative and binding on the Christian. While not all Catholics hold to doctrines such as purgatory, praying to the saints, worship or veneration of Mary, etc., the Catholic doctrine hold to them even though they have little or no mention or basis in the Bible. In truth, these doctrines are based on Roman Catholic traditions based on the Catholic Church's insistence that the Bible and tradition are equal in authority. The problem with this is that it undermines the sufficiency, authority, and completeness of the Bible. The view of Scripture is at the root of many, if not all, of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.

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