Steven Garofalo
News • Spirituality/Belief • Education
Steven Garofalo, M.A. Apologetics is president and founder of ReasonForTruth.Org and EquippedAcademy.Com. His mission is to help you not just survive, but to thrive by cutting through the distortion of current events with discernment, wisdom, and the truth of God-to encourage, educate and prepare you for what is, and what is at hand. www.ReasonForTruth.Org www.EquippedAcademy.Com
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THE STAGES OF CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA

The status of Christianity in America went into decline starting in the 1960s.
Christianity went through three phases or worlds:
1) The Positive World (1964-1994) in which Christianity was declining but still viewed positively.
2) The Neutral World (1994-2014) in which it was no longer seen positively but not yet negatively either.
3) And the Negative World (post-2014) in which for the first time in the 400 year history of America, official, elite culture now views Christianity negatively, or certainly at least skeptically.

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One Of The Largest Organs In The USA…in Action (Sunday)
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VOTE “VOTUM”: (“TO CHOOSE”) “Vote' comes from the Latin word

'votum' ("vow, wish" ).

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Make It A Great Day and Know: We Are On Schedule!

Jesus has a way of saying things that cuts to the quick-and He did just that in Matthew 11:12. In this short video, I simply want to reiterate that Jesus made clear that John The Baptist:
1) Came to pave the way for King Jesus.
2) John’s message was, like al prophets of old, met with violence and resistance.
3) That violence and resistance was described be in Matthew 11:12 as. “The violent take it by force”. In this context probably means that violent people forcibly oppose the kingdom which their hostility (23:13). As Christ’s kingdom advances, so do the attacks against it.
4) Verse 13 speaks to “The prophets and the law” referring to the OT, which anticipated the coming of the Messiah-most likely creating some level of anxiety among the religious class and true believers. WHY? Because John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ, the OT anticipated John’s ministry as well, but the coming of Jesus meant among other things-the upset of the “established religious ...

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IS MULTICULTURALISM GOOD? (PT1)

IS MULTICULTURALISM GOOD? 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 today's podcast I am going to show you the answer through reality and God's Word. In PART2, we will dig even deeper into God's Word to see what God says about the subject. The Scriptures makes clear that the gathering of many cultures in one place, or “multiculturalism” can be beautiful, but ONLY when under the Federal Headship of Jesus. Let’s jump into PT1!

IS MULTICULTURALISM GOOD? (PT1)
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DO MY BUSINESS UNTIL I COME!

Jesus said that He will but not immediately.
Today, I am going to show you that, as such, you and I are to serve God and others faithfully until He (Jesus) returns in bodily form-for He commanded in Luke 19-“Do my business till I come”. We have so many options for recreation in todays' world that we often forget that Jesus made clear for us to "DO MY BUSINESS TILL I COME". The Bible is clear as one reads through it that God gently, and sometimes not so gently, reminds us to tune up our thinking, worldview and priorities as we live out our daily lives. Today we will look at what Jesus said in Luke 19.

DO MY BUSINESS UNTIL I COME!
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TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT EXPLAINED BIBLICALLY

How is President Trump alive today? In this pre-released podcast, Steven will explain the attempted Trump assassination-biblically.

TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT EXPLAINED BIBLICALLY
GOD THE GREAT ARTIST

This is the portrait I awoke to this morning. While I was reminded that red sky in the morning is a sailers warning…the fact is that ALL beauty flows from God.

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LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MOM

This year we have a family trip planned to see my mom. At 88 years old, each phone call is a blessing. Each visit is an opportunity for my children to soak in grandma who was born in the 1930’s. You can’t get such a thing on the internet. I explained to my children (who are young adults now) that one day, we won't be able to pick up the phone and call to speak with Grandma V.

One day we won’t be able to visit her either as she will be with Jesus. It’s a simple truth which ought not make us sad, but rather re-focus our busy lives in a way that tunes into what really matters. One of those things that really matters is keeping in touch with and spending time with those we love. Tasks are essential in our data-results driven world.

The truth is that people matter more than any taks(s), and God matters more than people. This should instruct and motivate us to spend daily time with God in prayer and His Word. With this in mind, let’s keep God’s Word through the words of the Apostle ...

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HAVING A PROPER PERSPECTIVE
By Steven Garofalo, November 18, 2024 (Copyright 2024)

Christians were given another chance live in a free country advance the Christian faith in America and around the world. It’s a matter of perspective-God’s perspective. And we ought to adopt God’s perspective.

If the past four years has taught us anything, it’s that Christians are not accustomed to adversity, and that needs to change, because while good times are here today, there is always tomorrow. In America, we are not accustomed to “bad times” eluding to a country where Christians are persecuted on a serious level. I find it amazing that God has blessed us repeatedly despite our moral decline and slow abandonment of Him.

Ecclesiastes 7:14 is a productive and sober reminder that yes, God has once again to bless His people. If honest, we will admit that God it’s out of God love, that he allows pain, suffering, persecution and sometimes loss of earthly things that we hold onto too tightly. WHY? Because as C.S. Lewis says, “God whispers to us in our pleasure and screams to us in our pain”. In other words, when things are good, we don’t really listen all that closely to God. But when we are in times of trouble, we come close to God, pleading for his blessings, mercy, protection and provision.  This is how God draws us back to Him and tunes us up as “authentic”Christians. I have lived an incredible life experience having been born in NYC, raised in the Washington D.C. area and now having lived in Charlotte, NC for the past 25 years. The 2024 election was a great reprieve for Christians, but we are no way out of the woods of trials and persecution. In other words, we are wise not to get to get too comfortable. So, how should we respond?

FIRST: By thanking God for all the great good times, He has blessed us with.

SECOND: By praying for His will and guiding hand for us in this new anti-Christian world that has emerged.

THIRD: By preparing our children and grandchildren to do the same.

FOURTH AND LASTLY: By being joyful that God has chosen you and I to live during such a time in history whereby we can serve the Lord in such special times…despite the cost. This what God says about the matter through Solomon…

Ecclesiastes 7:14 ESV SAYS “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.”

IN CONCLUSION:

Ecclesiastes makes clear that we as Christians have been given another chance to live in a free country advance the Christian faith in America and around the world. If the past four years has taught us anything, it’s that we as Christians are not accustomed to adversity, and that needs to change, because while good times are here today, there is always tomorrow.

“Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34).

NOW LET’S GET TO WORK!! THANK YOU, LORD JESUS!

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CAN WE REST NOW?
By Steven Garofalo, November 15, 2024 (Copyright 2024)

ASK YOURSELF...CAN WE REST NOW?

With the election behind us, is it time to rest? The culture war never ends and while we can take a breather, we cannot rest for very long from an earthly perspective. But from a Biblical perspective, we have a better way. In Matthew 11:28-30, we find the greatest invitation to rest ever given to mankind by Jesus Himself. And today, I am going to illustrate that invitation of salvation and break down the three KEY components Jesus extends to all people: 1) To receive salvation, 2) To be disciples, and 3) To serve our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s look more closely. 

In Matthew 11 starting in verse 28, Jesus says this: “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) 

This is called theGREAT INVITATION, and this great invitation was and IS still extended to all people, of all colors, races, religions and cultures. The GREAT INVITATION broken down is as follows: 

1) FIRST:  To come and receive salvation. 
2) SECOND: To learn in discipleship. 
3) AND THIRD: To serve in yoke with the Lord. The “Yoke” involves instruction under discipleship. Yet, in contrast to the teaching of the scribes, Jesus’ “yoke is easy,” as compared to the yoke of the secular godless world. Through the ages, these verses have been among the most beloved in the New Testament. 

JESUS DESCRIBES WHO HE IS SPEAKING WITH AS YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN.” 
This describes the Jewish people as suffering under a load of religious responsibilities laid on them by priests, rabbis, scribes, and Pharisees (Matthew 23:4; Acts 15:10).

JESUS PROMISES REST 
“REST”  here means relief from the heavy religious burdens placed upon the people as just described. “You will find rest for your souls.” These words are taken from Jeremiah 6:16. 

The promise to “REST” was tied especially to the promise about the Son of David, the Messiah, providing security for the houses of Israel (see Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; Ezekiel 24:15 and Amos 9:11-15 for more on that).  

It's important to note that this REST is found ONLY in Jesus and has eternal implications (Hebrews 4:1-11). The people were already “weary and heavy-laden” because the excesses of the traditions of the Pharisees marginalized those who were spiritually “sick”(Matthew 9:12) and even on the Sabbath left people hungry, maimed, and demon possessed (12:1-24). 

The religious leaders laid heavy burdens on the people without providing any help (23:4) or showing mercy (9:13; 12:7). On the OTHER HAND, Jesus’ “BURDEN IS LIGHT”but not necessarily effortless. Anyone who has tried to embody the ethic of the Sermon on the Mount  knows the requirements are agonizingly difficult. But they are EASY and LIGHT in contrast to the heavy burdens of the Pharisees precisely because He is “GENTLE AND HUMBLE” and as the Suffering Servant, bears His people’s sins (Isiah 53:11-12).  

Let's look at this from the perspective of the LXX, or the Septuagint, (meaning “seventy), referring to the seventy-two translations, (six from each tribe of Israel) involved in translating the Pentateuch from Hebrew to Greek in the third-century BC [seventy-two is rounded down to seventy, hence the Roman numeral LXX].  

The LXX translates YE SHALL FIND PURIFICATION UNTO YOUR SOULS. 

 IN CLOSING 

The culture war never gets to rest for long, but our relationship with the world should be at peace in God's provision to rest "in Him." When Jesus says that His burden is “EASY,”He means that it is “good or kind”. That's a GREAT deal for you and me because our burden(s) in this life are not easy, good or kind. Only Jesus makes this offer and verses 28-30 are interestingly found in Matthew’s gospel alone. Jesus ends by telling all of us, “COME TO ME” and those who do find the yoke challenging, but also compassionate, have a Savior who encourages, loves, forgives, restores, strengthens, and saves. It seems that the more severe expressions of Christianity have strayed from the kind of discipleship Jesus offers us and placed the burden back upon mankind (ourselves). God did not intend it to be that way. God calls us to let go and let God. The famous singer Carrie Underwood got it right when she sang the hit song, “JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL.”  It IS a simple command filled with trust and faith in Jesus Christ to take the wheel of our life. The invitation is there for the taking. The choice is ours to take it. And this is “THE GREATEST INVITATION” ever offered to mankind by the God of the universe. 

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IS IT BAD TO GIVE A DIRECT-APT REPLY?
By Steven Garofalo, November 11, 2024 (Copyright 2024)

Are we called to not be direct with others? Is that bad, morally wrong, or just a reflection of our culture. TODAY, I am going to show you what the Bible says about giving an “APT REPLY” or being too direct.

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines an APT REPLY as: “able to respond without delay or hesitation or indicative of such ability.” The Collins Dictionary.com defines an apt reply as: “to the point and particularly appropriate.

People have called me direct and one who gives an apt reply at times. The bottom line is that some people don’t like an apt reply. Perhaps it's about accountabililty or not wanting to told anything). By anyone welse (an unteachable spirit).

The bottom line is that we are not to play loosly with words. If we speak truth we can speak and give an “apt reply” instead of some obscure encrypted sentence which is wrong. Some time back, I was sitting with some local folks that taught me that in the reigion, things often mean the opposite of what is literally stated. One gentleman asked the other gentleman if he “might-could consider” doing something. I thought it was a request until he elder gentleman turned to me and said I am going to tech you something about local culture, and went on to explain to me that a request as such if most often not a literal REQUEST but a command to do something. Despite the way in which his words were used, it was still an “apt reply”, and I can respect that. So, is giving an APT REPLY biblical?

PROVERBS 15:23 says “A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!”. 

So what does it mean to make an apt reply? To make an apt answer is to address a problem in someone's life according to Proverbs 15:23. Another version of Proverbs 15:23 says it this way: “TO MAKE AN APT ANSWER IS A JOY TO A MAN, AND A WORD IN SEASON, HOW GOOT IT IS!”

The  point is this: It should be a “JOY” to give an answer that is helpful to another person, even when it cuts to the core. To be clear, it’s just as important as to “HOW” we say something as to “THAT” we say something. So first, we must say it and then be mindful as to “HOW” we say that helpful truth. 

To be clear, there are times when there are right answer is not always appropriate, but it’s still good to give wisdom words to best help the other person make decisions for themself. On the flip side, it is a joy to give a helpful answer to a problem, but it must be spoken in the right time and in the right way. Timing is critical. We must make sure that we are not criticizing the other person out of anger. That would be wrong. 

Being a productive and effective parent or leader mandates being able to give an apt answer  and being disciplined in your speech; using your words for the benefit and encouragement as well as correction (when needed) of others. 

IN CLOSING I want to close with Proverbs 24:26 which says, “AN HONEST ANSWER IS LIKE A KiSS ON THE LIPS”

The ESV says it this way: “WHOEVER GIVES AN HONEST ANSWER KISSES THE LIPS”.

This saying compares giving “A RIGHT ANSWER” with kissing  “THE LIPS”. A right answer is a straightforward, honest response to an inquiry. And in the end, this is called giving an APT ANSWER because such words reflect LOVE, RESPECT, and INTIMACY towards the inquirer, much like a kiss on the lips. And, the greatest sign of affection and respect for another person is to tell the person the truth.

So to answer the question as to is it wrong or bad to give an “APT REPLY?” The answer in summary is a whopping “YES”. We are called biblically to be respectful but direct with others. That is not bad or morally wrong. WHY? Because the greatest sign of affection and respect for another person is to tell the person the truth-and that mandates giving an “apt reply”.

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