Arlington Baptist Pulpit

09/05/2026

09/03/2026

Don’t let Facebook and politics ruin your day

Facebook and politics is an absolutely insane thing (and way) to let ruin your day and your one life.

Think: many people actually wake up and see what a politician said and what somebody on Facebook said and get angry.

You see, people actually check Facebook first and last thing of the day (and all day) and spend their time arguing with people who don’t even care (and who are laughing); and they end up hating everybody and becoming so self centered (and self righteous)(think) all the while you (created by God) are standing on a planet created by God with an amazing life and limited time; but somehow somebody from Facebook is ruining your Thursday?? I’m seriously laughing.

Now yes, Politics matters, and what culture and governments do are important; but you can pray and live and even let it affect your life without it being allowed to consume you! You see, caring about what happens in the world should not make you hate your neighbor (family), destroy relationships, or keep your nervous system in a permanent emergency mode so that you are on medication for it.

Now, If you are reading this and it immediately made you think of someone else please also read it again. Don’t let Facebook and political drama ruin your day or steal your joy!

Psalm 118:24

09/02/2026

Consider your ways

The book of Haggai has one of my favorite verses and thoughts that will make you sit back and examine your life.

Now, in the book, the Lord sent a prophet to a people who were working, planting, earning, eating, drinking, and building; but were never truly satisfied (think); and in the middle of all their “striving,” God spoke these simple words: “consider your ways” (Hag.1:5).

Ok, so now let’s just sit with that for a minute: let’s “consider our ways;” let’s maybe consider what we’ve been building without praying about it, maybe consider what we’ve been chasing without asking God if it belongs to us, and maybe consider how exhausted we can get trying to carry what was supposed to be put (and left) at his feet.

You see, Haggai reminds us that we can be busy and still be spiritually empty, we can accomplish things and still lack peace, and we can build a life that looks beautiful from the outside while our spirit is quietly thirsting for the presence of God.

Now, there comes a time when we all have to stop and consider our ways: have I prayed about this?, have I sought the Lord about this?, and am I following his direction, or am I asking him to bless a direction I chose without him? You see, God was never supposed to be someone we only call upon when the walls start falling, he is supposed to be the foundation on which the walls are built, and he will be. “I am with you, saith the Lord” (Hag.1:13).

What a promise! You see, you do not have to walk into tomorrow alone, you do not have to understand every season, and you do not have to carry the weight of knowing how everything will work out; just seek him, obey him, and walk with him; and when life becomes too crazy or loud, just go back to those simple words: “consider your ways.”

09/02/2026

God lives here

Imagine being able to point across the street and say, “God lives over there.”

Now, for Israel that was real. You see, when the tabernacle was finished, “the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Ex.40:34).

Think: anybody could look across the camp, and know that God had chosen to dwell among his people (think); and then Jesus came, died, and rose again, and gave his people something even better (and nearer)(Heb.8-10).

Paul said, “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God” (1Cor.6:19). Now, that is too easy to read too quick, so think: when you trusted Christ, now no, nobody around you could see what happened; and no, there was no cloud over your head, no trumpet, and no flash of light; but yes, God placed his Spirit (glory) within you.

The message here is that I can sometimes mistake his quiet for absence and maybe you can too: sometimes the house feels empty, prayer feels ordinary, and nothing about the morning seems spiritual (like it could be at the tabernacle); but still, the God of Israel that lived in the tabernacle has made his home in everyone who belongs to Christ.

Now, there’s a lot that goes with that (as far as where the glory comes from and why), but the main idea here is that his presence does not have anything to do with your day or mood (it’s all about the sacrifice and the faith).

You see, his promise is real and his presence is steadier than whatever your heart feels today. Now, loneliness may tell you that you have been forgotten, but God has not forgotten you.

09/01/2026

Hold it all loosely

People spend their whole lives paying off houses, accumulating possessions, and building their retirement accounts, and this is right and good; and yes, it feels good, and It is a blessing.

The problem is (and danger) is when that number (and toy) starts affecting our peace than God’s promises do (think).

You see, Paul warned believers who had plenty of money about this. He said “riches are uncertain, but God “richly supplies us with all things to enjoy” (1Tim.6:17).

Now yes, God lets us enjoy what he provides: a full refrigerator, a paid electric bill, and some money set aside; and all of it can be had with gratitude, but the trouble starts when comfort starts whispering, “You are safe now” and when it does more for my happiness and peace than the presence of Jesus.

You see, money can solve a lot of problems, but it can’t promise another morning or bring real joy or salvation; and that is why Paul tells those who have much to “do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share” (1Tim.6:18).

You see, giving has a way of showing me where my heart is because if money blesses me or scares me more than it should, then maybe I have asked it to make promises that it was never able to keep; and I can tell you this, God was faithful to me before the account ever grew!; and he will still be faithful if the number shrinks! Yes, every good thing in my life has always come from (and rested in) hands bigger and stronger than mine.

Ok, so now yes, I want to enjoy what God gives me, but without letting it become my security. And yes, saving wisely is good; but generosity keeps reminding me where everything came from and why I am here.

You see, one day, every dollar that I have will stay here and it will belong to somebody else, but Jesus Christ will still be mine!; and when I have nothing left he will still be enough and be worth more than it all.

09/01/2026

Social media and marriage

I have seen a lot of marriages fall apart over social media.

You see, it all starts with a friend request, a like, or doom scrolling; and please know that Instagram knows what its doing: it’s algorithm feeds you what you want to see it, studies your desires, feeds you your weakness, and takes your time, attention and loyalty; so be careful what you use it for because yes, you can use it for positive things, or it can mess your life up.

Now, women especially fall prey to social media because of the attention. You see, they think men that should fight for their attention because they have got 10 men sending them messages, but with that logic it’s also true that a pile of manure should be special just because 10 flies are all over it, but that’s not true either (think); and it’s a strange thing to be proud of that you have got a bunch of men trying to get your attention. Now, that doesn’t make women wrong for being attractive or wanting to be attractive or feel attractive, but it can also be an illusion because most of the people that are trying to give you that attention or trying to take advantage of you (and are people of low standards); it is just nothing to take pride in.

You see, pride is found in living by true, right, and holy standards; and getting our self-worth from Jesus.

09/01/2026

A safe place

Now, it is easy to say that “God is enough” until something that you counted on changes or is gone.

You see, David found that out in a cave. He had gone from sleeping in a palace to hiding in a hole in the ground, and that is a big change of address and scenery.

Think though: the cave could hide him from Saul, but it could not settle his heart, so David prayed, “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in you; and in the shadow of your wings I will make my refuge” (Ps.57:1).

Now, here is the key: David was already inside a “refuge” when he prayed for one. He was surrounded by rocks (think)!; but you see, God protected and held him. You see, a refuge is where you go when you finally realize that you cannot save yourself or hold everything together.

Today maybe the thing that you have been leaning on feels shaky: the job, the relationship, or the plan that you were sure would work; and so think: God may change the circumstances and “still the storm” or he may still you while they stay exactly where they are; but either way, he is still there.

The message here is that David went into the cave because he needed somewhere to hide; and by the time he prayed, he learned that the safest place in that cave was never behind the rock walls, it was under the care of God (think); and he is still the safest place for your heart today.

08/30/2026

Too busy?