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A battle between good and evil in every heart

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DON HEBERT

From the earliest pages of Scripture, the story of humanity is marked by conflict. I’m not speaking of a conflict between nations or powers, but between good and evil. When God told the serpent in the garden that there would be hostility between his offspring and the offspring of the woman, He was declaring both a curse and a promise. Evil would remain active in the world, but hope would come through a Redeemer who would crush the serpent’s power. This struggle between righteousness and wickedness has continued throughout all history and continues in every life today.

The book of Psalms, particularly Psalm 37, offers wisdom for people who find themselves in the middle of this conflict. I understand it to teach that the righteous and the wicked live side by side, yet their paths lead to very different ends. While the wicked often appear strong, confident, and successful, their prosperity is temporary. God reminds His people not to envy or worry about them. Their success will fade like grass under the sun. Those who trust in God, however, will endure and inherit peace that cannot be taken away.

When people wrong us, it is natural to feel fear or anger. We may lose sleep or feel bitterness grow in our hearts. Yet God’s word says, “Do not fret because of evildoers.” Worry and anger can draw us into the same sin that we despise. Instead, the faithful are called to trust the Lord, do good, and find joy in Him. When we delight in God, our desires begin to change, and He gives us hearts that long for what is right.

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Evil often strikes hardest when it comes from people we least expect. Sometimes even those who claim faith let us down. The pain of betrayal or injustice from within the community of believers can be especially heavy. But Scripture does not ignore this reality. It calls evil what it is and promises that God sees and acts. He is not silent. Though the wicked may plot against the righteous, God laughs at their plans because their downfall is certain. Those who harm others will one day face the results of their own actions. Their cruelty and deceit will turn back on them.

For those who are mistreated or abused, Psalm 37 offers comfort and courage. God is not distant; He is involved in the details of our lives. He upholds the righteous and does not abandon them. Even when it seems that wrongdoers are in control, their power is brief. God’s justice may not always come immediately, but it always comes. The Lord upholds His people, protects their reputation, and brings truth to light in His time.

The psalm also gives guidance for how to live while waiting for God to act. The righteous are told to keep doing good, to turn away from evil, and to stay faithful. They are to be patient and calm, not taking revenge or giving in to hatred. God promises that the meek, those who trust quietly in Him, will inherit lasting peace. The righteous may have little compared to the wealthy wicked, but what they have is blessed and secure because God sustains it.

The passage makes a strong contrast between the two sides. The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are generous. The wicked seek to destroy, but the righteous seek to bless. The Lord loves justice and will not forsake those who belong to Him. Even when trials come, He provides for His people and keeps their steps steady.

The psalm ends with this message: the future of the wicked is destruction, but the future of the righteous is peace. The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord Himself. He is their protection in times of trouble. He delivers them because they take refuge in Him.

This promise was fulfilled most perfectly in Jesus Christ. He was wronged by evil men, yet He did not return evil for evil. Instead, He entrusted Himself to God, who raised Him from death and gave Him victory. Through Him, every believer can find safety and hope. Those who trust in Christ stand on the side of the righteous. Those who reject Him stand with the wicked.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21


The promise of a place beyond death

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AMY TURNER

Many people live with fear when they think about death. It is seen as a mystery, a place that no one can describe with certainty. You cannot sit down with those who have passed away and ask them if their faith gave them hope. For many, this leaves an uneasy question about what really happens after life ends.

Yet the Bible gives a clear answer. In John 14:1–3, Jesus speaks words of comfort. He tells his followers not to let their hearts be troubled. He assures them that in his Father’s house there is room for all who belong to Him.

What sets this hope apart is the truth that Jesus himself rose from the dead. His resurrection shows that death is not the end. Because he lives, those who trust in him can believe that his promise is sure.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

Philippians 3:20

Legacy Five’s Jon Epley speaks frankly after having stroke

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JOHN WALK

Jon Epley of Legacy Five experienced a medical crisis last week that could have changed his life forever. Remarkably, just days later, he says he feels completely normal. In a Facebook video, Epley shared the terrifying details of what happened.

“Thursday night, I was at home, and I was sitting on the bed looking at my phone. It was about 10 o’clock. At exactly 10:05, I had just looked at the time,” Epley recalled. What started as an odd sensation quickly escalated into something far more serious. “At 10:05, I thought, man, my phone feels like it weighs a thousand pounds. I’m having trouble holding it up right now. My arm started feeling worse.”

Epley got up and walked to the kitchen, shaking his arm in an attempt to restore feeling. He initially thought his arm had simply fallen asleep, but the situation deteriorated rapidly. “And within a few seconds, it started happening to my right leg. I couldn’t put weight on it. It started feeling like it was just made out a rubber or something.”

Within half a minute, Epley realized the gravity of what was happening. “About 30 seconds in, I actually said out loud. I said, I think I’m having a stroke,” he said. He made his way back to the bedroom, but by that point, the paralysis had taken over. “And by the time I got back there, it had been about two minutes. And I fell back on my bed and called 911 with my left hand because within two minutes, my whole right side was gone. It was paralyzed. I could not move my right leg, my right arm, my hand.”

The fear intensified when emergency services answered. “I was scared. And 911 answered the call. And when they answered, I really got scared because I started trying to tell them my address and what was going on and I couldn’t form words,” Epley explained.

Paramedics transported him to hospital, where he was admitted Thursday night. Throughout Friday, medical staff conducted numerous tests. “Friday afternoon they did an MRI,” he said, noting that doctors also ordered an echocardiogram.

The following morning brought confirmation of what Epley had suspected. “This morning the neurologist came in. She said you had a stroke and she said it wasn’t one of those many strokes. She said you had a stroke deep in the left side of your brain and the left side you know affects the right so she said that’s why you lost everything on the right side,” he recounted.

What happened next astounded medical professionals. The neurologist told Epley his recovery was extraordinary. She “basically went on to tell me how rare this was, how unheard of this was that I was sitting there and by today I was totally fine, didn’t feel anything, everything worked fine, speak fine,” he said. Medical staff administered comprehensive assessments to verify his condition. “They did all kinds of comprehension tests on me and reading and vision and everything,” Epley noted.

At the conclusion of the examination, the neurologist emphasized just how fortunate he was. “She reiterated again at the end there. You are one lucky person,” Epley said. But the singer had a different perspective on his remarkable recovery. “And I couldn’t say anything except it’s not luck. It’s the Lord.”

11th Hour’s Amber Eppinette Saunders embarks on solo recording career

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JEFF TURNER

Amber Eppinette Saunders, known for her work with 11th Hour, is launching a solo music career under the stage name Amber Lynn, Sonlite Records announced this week. The new venture will showcase more personal songwriting while she continues her involvement with 11th Hour.

“While still looking forward to everything that’s coming with 11th Hour, I’ve been working quietly on so much new music, waiting for the moment that felt right…and that moment is finally here,” Saunders said. “I can’t wait to share more of my heart and story with you through my first ever solo release.”

The Sterlington, Louisiana native’s solo work will feature an inspirational approach that builds upon her southern gospel foundation. Her debut single, “Yahweh (Your Will Your Way),” is scheduled for release on 23 January. The track is intended to establish the direction for subsequent releases that will give Saunders opportunity to expand her artistic expression.

“This next chapter means a lot to me,” she said. “Time to share my heart with you all.”

Raised as a pastor’s child, Saunders grew up immersed in both music and Christian ministry. Over the years, she has contributed to more than 200 compositions, many recorded by 11th Hour alongside other artists including The Martins, The Whisnants, and The Bowling Sisters. She has also earned multiple fan award nominations for Soprano of the Year, and she recently received a Songwriter of the Year nomination.

Listen for music from her solo project soon on Texas Gospel Canada!

The Care of a Rescuer

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NELSON NOLAND

The twelfth chapter of Romans describes what Christian life should look like after receiving God’s mercy. Paul begins his letter by describing how God rescues us through grace. Then, in the later chapters, he explains that those who have been rescued are called to live as rescuers. People who take the mercy they have received should pass it on to others.

Faith, according to Paul, is not a feeling that stays inside. It is something that moves from the heart into real action. Love begins as compassion but must grow into care that can be seen and felt. The goal is not to appear spiritual or sound religious, but to live with genuine love that expresses itself in daily life.

From Rescue to Responsibility

Paul teaches that God’s mercy is never meant to stop with us. When we have experienced His forgiveness and kindness, we are to let that same mercy flow through us toward others. You could think of it as God recycling our pain and past struggles into compassion for people who face similar difficulties. If you have been encouraged, you can now encourage others. If you have been comforted, you can now comfort others. God uses the things that once hurt us to make us more useful to others. Isn’t this what it means to live out the gospel?

Christianity is not just about believing the right things. It is about behaving in a way that shows what we believe. The world does not need more people who can talk about faith; it needs people who can live it.

Caring Through Generosity

Paul begins this section with a simple instruction: “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Caring for others begins with generosity. Faith is not meant to be passive; it must take action.

I hope this doesn’t seem repetitive: To care is to give. It is to offer our time, our resources, and our presence to others. I hope to drive the point home here. Christians are not called to consume what the church provides; they are called to contribute to its mission. The original word Paul uses, koinonia, means partnership. It describes believers working side by side, sharing what they have for the sake of others. Our generosity reveals the condition of our heart. A healthy church is one where people are quick to share and slow to hoard. Hospitality, in particular, is a powerful form of generosity. Opening one’s home is an act of love that says, “You belong here.”

Hospitality also reaches beyond comfort zones. It means showing kindness to people who are different from us. Real love does not stop at the people we know. It crosses boundaries. And this is exactly what Jesus did. He came to those who were far away, not to those who already knew Him. He pursued people who were lost and hurting. In the same way, believers are to reach out, not wait to be asked. Love takes the first step.

Acting with Grace

After speaking about generosity, Paul moves to a harder subject: responding with grace to those who treat us badly. He writes, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”

This command challenges the natural human reaction. The world teaches us to get even. Grace teaches us to let go. When someone wrongs us, the easy response is anger or revenge. But Paul reminds us that Christians live by a different standard. We do not fight evil with evil; we answer it with good.

To bless someone means to speak well of them, to pray for them, and to wish them good rather than harm. This requires strength that only God can provide. It is not weakness to forgive; it takes deep courage.

Jesus lived this out perfectly. When He was insulted and beaten, He did not respond with hatred. Instead, He prayed, “Father, forgive them.” Stephen, one of the first followers of Jesus, did the same when he was killed for his faith. He asked God to forgive his attackers. In this we see that grace is not just an idea. And when we refuse to take revenge, we trust God to handle justice. We make space for His work instead of trying to control outcomes ourselves. Grace allows us to live in peace even when we are treated unfairly.

Sharing in Joy and Sorrow

Paul then writes, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” When someone experiences success or happiness, love celebrates with them. When someone is grieving or struggling, love does not turn away, it sits beside them and shares the pain. There is an old saying: “A joy shared is a joy doubled, and a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved.” When believers share one another’s experiences, the church becomes more than an organization, it becomes a family.

Seeing People Through God’s Eyes

Caring for others often means stepping toward people the world overlooks. A mature believer learns not to chase influence but to look for those who are missing. Every person you meet carries eternal value. There are no small lives in the eyes of God. When we see people as image-bearers of their Creator, we no longer treat them as interruptions or burdens. We see them as opportunities to reflect Christ’s love. We are called to run toward people in need, not away from them.

The Work of Restoration

Part of our calling as the church is to make broken lives whole again. This does not mean fixing people on our own but helping them encounter the One who can. A caring church is not focused on fame or influence. It looks for those who need love and welcomes them. It replaces pride with service, and judgment with compassion. It remembers that no one is too far gone for grace.