Steven Garofalo
Politics • Spirituality/Belief • Preparedness
THE MOST EXCITING THING YOU WILL EVER DO
By Steven Garofalo, February 16, 2023 (Copyright 2024)
February 16, 2024

Serving the Lord is the most exciting and rewarding thing in the world. At times, it can be a scary thing to do, but God gives us the confidence and courage to do it.

Today, I am going to show yout that in serving the Lord, it's the WHY behind  the THAT we serve that matters most. Serving the Lord should be done with a non-pious heart as one of the most selfless things we do in this life while serving our Lord.

Ministry seems to have slipped into some kind of "mission-drift" and has morphed more into "platform building" and "ministry branding" than misison-whereby we desire to consume content from those who trend closest to our feed as opposed to the best God and right content has for us according to His word and the leading of His Spirit for that moment and day.

It’s important for us to look at the fact that each one of us has a pronounced calling mission from God-albeit however large or small we perceive that to be. The important thing or each one of us to is to understand embrace the fact that Christian service to the Lord is not “sexy” (culturally speaking). In other words, it’s not about popularity, the most popular speakers, or about those who are most downloaded on the internet. That has nothing to do with the most biblically accurate or right message coming at us in the moment or how we are to live out our own mission. Interestingly, most of this populist-Christian service is fading away with the decline of cultural Christianity in America and around the world. The most downloaded content on the internet is more and more having to form to the regulating norms of online platforms which reward the least biblical messages and burry the feeds of more biblical messages that go against the will of the state. This is why I started our community. People more and more are demanding greater subsistence in their teaching. That being said, let’s get back to serving the Lord and what that means for you and I.

WHERE DOES SERVING THE LORD COME FROM?

For all of us, serving the Lord naturally flows from a humble Christ-centered servant-heart driven by God. God by the way is very opposite from us. What you and I perceive as desirable is often seen by God as a distraction and sometimes sinful.  If you question this assertion, I challenge you to pause and think about what you read in your Bible today-if you read your Bible today at all. What did or does it say? Was it a feel good message or a message of personal and corporate change, challenge, and calling? Such a message is encouraging by the way as it truly makes us better and brings us long-term joy. If you read God’s Word prayerfully today, you will see that it purifies you and makes you better if you take it seriously and apply it to your life.

Life is full of both good times and difficult ones. His ways are not our ways. You and I would never choose to put ourselves through trials, even if we know they will make us become better servants of God. We simply wouldn't do that in most all cases. We tend to read the Scriptures as if the Bible, the Word of God is something to read as opposed to lived out in real time. If we are being honest with ourselves, we will admit that we (including me) seek to avoid trials, pain and suffering. But it’s in between the pages of the Biblical Scriptures and through prayer-in fellowship with the Holy Spirit that God makes us better, prepares our hearts our minds for the day ahead of us, and calls us to action in His will for His purpose according to His plan for our lives.

SO WHAT!

Do you and I hear such a message very often? Sadly, most pastors and churches today preach according to our DESIRES as opposed to our NEEDS according to God. The reason for this is that they don’t want church members to leave and go to the church down the street (taking their tithe with them) in an effort to hear a more soothing message that makes them feel better. Simply put, in many cases, the modern church has succumbed to the culture as opposed to being salt and light to a lost world. As a result, the church is formed by culture as opposed to the church forming the culture. For you and I today, let's emember that being salt and light to the world often means going against the grain of contemporary culture. And this may (on occassion) entail our facing a bit of pain and suffering for that decision and direction in our lives. Do you thing this is boring? You can be assured that nothing is more exciting than serving the LORD in the present.

In closing, please allow me encourage you with two passages starting with Paul’s words in Romans:

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).

Who doesn’t want to be able to REJOICE in our modern age. While this will entail some suffering and trials (which we perceive as bad in and itself), these things can be good things in what they produce in us if we allow God to use them to and for His glory.

LASTLY, James tells us:

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (JAMES 1:12).

Who doesn’t want to run the good race and finish strong? In order to run a race well and finish strong we must condition our hearts, bodies and minds to do well daily and hit the finish line strong. This entails remaining STEADFAST UNDER the TRIALS of LIFE. For when we have done so, we will be ready to receive the crown of life. Let's remember that none of us are guarenteed tomorrow. None of us know the moment He will call us home to receive that crown, so we must be ready at the start and finish of each and every day; remaining steadfast in His spirit. So I ask you, WHAT IS MORE EXCITING THAN THIS?

(NOTE BENNE) We live in very difficult times. I want encourage you to push through! Always keep in mind that what goes up must come down. And what is down will eventually go up. This is how God works. God opposes the proud but raises up the humble (James 4:6-7). Our current downward slide will one day (nationally and internationally) will bottom out at some point. At that point our nation (and all nations) will have two choices; to authentically turn back up to God or continue to turn away from God to their demise. This is where SERVING THE LORD comes in. We are called to serve the Lord TODAY for what He has called us to this day and for all the Lord calls us to later today and in the future. In other words, we must prepare the fields for what is coming next as well as the present. If we pre-position ourselves for and in our families, communities, government, at the university and in the work place, we will one day take back our culture and the world for Christ. What will our nation, our life, and the world be like after this next turning? The answer lies with us in light of God's plan. It all boils down to if and how we CHOOSE TO SERVE THE LORD.

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WHY A GOOD NAME IS MOST IMPORTANT
By Steven Garofalo, August 26, 2024 (Copyright 2024)

A GOOD NAME REFLECTS GOOD CHARACTER:

Ecclesiastes 7:1 says: “A good name is BETTER than precious ointment , and the day of death than the day of birth” (ESV).

WHAT IS KING SOLOMON SAYING IN THIS VERSE?

For starters, the two parts of the verse go together and Solomon is making the simple point that the day of death is better IF one has made a GOOD NAME for himself during life-so that his life has a continued or lasting REPUTATION and INFLUENCE. It's easy to do a singular good thing or have a good reputation for period of time, but difficult to carry that reputation over your entire lifetime into death. It's easy to finish the race, but difficult to finish the race strong. It's dififcult to achieve what Paul sayd to Timothy in 2 TImothy 4:7. "I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH" (2 Timothy 4:7). Anyone can finish the race without keeping the faith and/or with a terrible, tained reputation or name. But, it's worth keeping right with God as best we can to finish strong.

Solomon says that a good name is “BETTER THAN OINTMENT” which is PERFUME. Solomon is using “ointment” or “perfume”, which was very expensive and exclusive only to the very wealthy (in biblical times) as an illstration and a standard for comparing a good REPUTATION. OINTMENT or PERFUME was very desirable, expensive, and out of reach for most people in biblical times.

SO WHAT?

It’s the continued influence that our name carries long past our years of life on this earth and into eternity that I want to focus on today. Before we go there though, I want top point out that verse one is part of the bigger passage found in the verses one to fourteen whereby, Solomon, through a series of proverbial comparisons, offers counsel concerning wisdom and folly. Solomon shows the potency of one by pointing out and comparing their opposites i.e. folly vs. wisdom.

Back to our main point: Our name is really all we have, and a good name can be a special valued asset worth much more than all the riches of the world. If you have a good name, that name connects you with your past family ancestors and history, your present business, family and community dealings. On the contrary (opposite), bad living can derail and ultimately destroy your name/reputation and standing in your family and community. Again, righteous living will accomplish quite the opposite in that people will want to do business with you, marry into your family, and TRUST you and those with a good name. REMEMBER, birds of the same feather flock together-meaning that good people tend to affiliate with others who speak the truth, are trustworthy and who have a good name and reputation.

LASTLY, your actions, words, teachings, character, and service will bless others in this life. It is almost impossible to comprehend the number of people you will effect for the good in the name of Jesus Christ when we make a “good name” for ourselves during the few days we have on this earth. 

When I look at most of today’s politicians and business leaders, I see that they have made a strong name for themselves, but not in the good. They have impacted many millions of lives-but not for the positive, right or good in most cases. And when they breathe their last, like you and I, they too will stand before God to give an account. Their “NAME” or reputation will also instruct those who come after them as to the what not to do. The pain, hurt and loss from politicians such as Nancy Pelosi and many others on both sides of the aisle will leave them with a horrible name, reputation and legacy. 

In closing, please remember the words of God as spoken through Solomon in Ecclesiastes 7:1: “A good name is BETTER than precious ointment , and the day of death than the day of birth” (ESV).

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THE KEY TO BETTER SLEEP
By Steven Garofalo, August 23, 2024 (Copyright 2024)

In today’s uncertain world, we tend to have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Today, I am going to show you what king Solomon says in Ecclesiastes about sleeping well and what keeps us up at night.

Ecclesiastes 5:3 says this: “FOR A DREAM COMES WITH MUCH BUSINESS, AND A FOOL’S VOICE WITH MANY WORDS.”

What is Solomon saying exactly about our sleep and dreams. I want to back up one verse to v.2 which says, “BE NOT RASH WITH YOUR MOUTH, NOR LET YOUR HEART BE HASTY TO UTTER A WORD BEFORE GOD, FOR GOD IS IN HEAVEN AND YOU ARE ON EARTH, THEREFORE…” 

Simply put, Solomon is saying that as nighttime dreams often reveal one’s preoccupation with his work, so also excessive words in prayer may show a lack of intelligence. You see, these two verses go together. I am going backwards because I want to better illustrate the central point. Said differently, I want start with the TRUTH and then give the reasons. 

If I may, please allow me to go back two more verses to make today’s point even more complete. Verse one opens the entire chapter staunt to “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for to not know that they are doing evil”. 

The entire chapter sets the tone with Solomon stating firmly to “GUARD YOUR STEPS”, meaning for example to be careful, attentive, listen in the spirit of “OBEDIENCE” to God. Verse Two is a pivotal verse that I believe is a hinge between the first part of this passage and the second. 

Verse two says, “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your WORDS be FEW.”

In other words, (no pun intended) Solomon is saying that we are not to make a rash or ill-considered bargain with the Lord, nor twist a wish into a demanding prayer to God (under the guise of “vision” or “faith”). In other words, we are always to be thoughtful and of few words when in God’s presence. Verses 4-5 go on to take this home in regarding GIVING and KEEPING our WORD as Solomon calls making these VOWS as optional, hence if made they MUST be kept. 

SO WHAT IS THE POINT? 
The point of this passage boils down to the futility of careless worship which includes seeing God something less than the God of the universe and our heavenly Father who is all powerful, all loving, but all JUST as well. And our attitude towards God is reflected best in our worship of Him. Solomon sets forth an exhortation concerning proper worship.

As for how well we sleep, it all boils down to our mind and heart-namely how right we are with God. When our earthly work over-dominates our minds and heart, we get distracted and self-dependent on ourselves and this temporal earth instead of on God Himself as the ultimate Provider and Sustainer. God is not only over the universe, but also our lives and our work. As a result of a mis-aligned faith or obedience, we tend to become sloppy in our worship of God, making our time with him less authentic and heart felt and more mechanical.  

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly is the problem I find rampant today, even with many Christians, which is the failing to keep one's word. I have one friend inparticular who I have known for decades who has said he was going to do something numerous times, but never carried through with his word (oath). Perhaps he spoke "hastily".  I said something I to him at first but stopped saying anything to him about the matter(s) because I want to see the raw truth about this character and what kind of friend he is. I want to see if he continue to VOLUNTARILY give his word or make an “oath”. The failure to carry through with our word (oath) is a character flaw bathed in selfishness, selfish competition, and an unhealthy faith based on emotion and selfish-ambition over obedience. 

When we fail to keep our word, God convocation us. How does He do this? Through His Spirit to ours. The mind and heart convicts us when we do such a thing because God’s Word is written on our heart. Furthermore, God's Law is written on our hearts-hence, we know better. “THEY SHOW THAT THE WORK OF THE LAW IS WRITTEN ON THEIR HEARTS, WHILE THEIR CONSCIENCE ALSO BEARS WITNESS, AND THEIR CONFLICTING THOUGHTS ACCUSE OR EVEN EXCUSE THEM” (Romans 2:15).

IN CONCLUSION
If we want to sleep well, we need to be right with God. We need a clean conscience and heart that while not perfect, needs to be cleansed daily through reading God’s Word, prayer, confession and supplication. Furthermore, knowing that we are sinners, we must approach our worship of God rightly, and with clean hands. This includes keeping our word or “oath’s” we have made to Him and to and to others-even when it hurts or costs us something. 

This is called “obedience”. Once we begin to better do this, God makes clear that our sleep will be more relaxed, more sweet, less troubled, and more restful-even in today’s uncertain world. Yes, we tend to have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, but there is remedy, and that remedy is the God of the Bible and obedience in love in what He calls us to do, how we are to live, and how we are to properly worship Him-which entails all things we do in life. And with that, I wish you better sleep, better rest, and a better quality of life.

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IS MULTICULTURALISM GOOD? (PT1)
By Steven Garofalo, August 19. 2024 (Copyright 2024)

America has been called “The Melting Pot” for all people, cultures and countries around the world. But is multiculturalism good? More importantly, is it biblical? In this series, I am going to show you through the Scriptures that the gathering of many cultures in one place, or multiculturalism” can be beautiful, but ONLY when under the Federal Headship of Jesus.

Britannica.com in an article by Jennifer T. Eagan, last updated July 19, 2024 defines “multiculturalism” as “the view that cultures, races, and ethnicities, particularly those of minority groups deserve special acknowledgement of their differences within dominant political culture”

The one big problem with this definition is the point that new comers to any culture or country somehow “deserve special acknowledgement”. This serves only to destroy the existing culture and refill that space with those of other cultures that do not deserve or have not worked for what they have been given. An example of this is the U.S. governments granting tens of thousands of dollars to migrants (non-U.S. citizens) to buy new homes with the hard earned tax money generated by citizens of that country-against the will or without the consent of it’s citizens. This is more political than it is compassionate.

I was born in Brooklyn, New York and was raised in the Washington D.C. area. New York City and Washington D.C. are about as multicultural as you get and I had tons of friends from countries around the world which was awesome. Growing up in these cities, the one commonality my multicultural friends and I shared were the (biblical values) of hard work, respect for one another, and the respect of my friends being in my country, as would be expected when I visit theirs. That seems to be lost in today’s world. Multiculturalism is beautiful on one hand though and destabilizing and can be disastrous on the other. 

It all boils down to a “United States” of America or “United State Countries of Europe” or any other continent that determines a countries unity, stability, functionality and so on. When you bring migrants into any country that are poor and cannot pay for themselves, you enslave the citizens of that country against their will to pay for the cost of living of the existing citizens. The result as such results in “TRIBALISM”.

TRIBALISM, according to the Mariam Webster Dictionary is: “Consciousness and loyalty especially exaltation of the tribe about other groups; strong group loyalty”

When I was a little boy, in New York City, the neighborhood my family lived in was mostly Italian. My grandmother would take me to the “market” (not supermarket) for fresh food and nobody spoke English, at least not to my grandmother. They all spoke her dialect of Sicilian. My other grandmother only spoke English. But both sides of the family “ASSIMILATED” into American culture, adopting American values, including working hard and not taking hand outs.

Today, we find entire ethnic groups from poor countries and not so poor countries coming to America and Europe with no desire to engage in the American or European work ethic; instead living off government provisions. Furthermore, speaking of American in-particular, many of these ethnic groups live in America, but refuse to assimilate into American culture. And here lies the issue in that it creates cultural, ethnic and religious tribalism. The same is true of Europe.

In this two part series, I want to focus on most all that matters, which is “religious” assimilation". WHY? Because if all ethnicities were to adopt the Christian religion and/or values of the Christian faith, the United States would be more “UNITED” than ever before. But there is one problem which is that every country has a central dominant, traditional religion which governs their values, mores, traditions, values and laws. When Islam’s Sharia Law is seen by its American citizen members of the Islamic faith as above the Constitution, it creates a divide among more serious issues. In the Middle East, there is NO multiculturalism. In India which means “Country or Land of the Indis”, there is very little if any multiculturalism. The same with China, Japan and most of the East among the rest of the world.

As a result, WESTERN-CHRISTIAN dominant cultures are diluted into “nothingness” while non-assimilating cultures and religions take over the Christian landscape-all in the name of “POLITICAL MULTICULTURALISM”. A major part of this equation is government control, but this is not the point of this article.

In PART 2, I am going to do more of a deep dive, looking at specific directives given by the Old Testament as to the dangers of multiculturalism and show you what that means for you and I today. The biblcal view of multiculturalism deals with many aspects of life and reality but not in an overly practical and prescriptive way. All people and cultures are part of our human heritage and equally valued by God for sure. And politicaly, teh Bible has more to say about respecting authority than it does about specific policies, Theologically though, the Bible does NOT support the idea that all cultural religous ideas are equally true or shouldbe treated as such. In the end, yes, we are all equal in God’s eyes. But God is clear that Christians and Jewish people are not to mix their religious beliefs in the name of “MULTICULTURALISM”, however attractive as that may seem. I will pick up with that point in PART2.

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