I Asked Pastor Don Kimbro To Share With Pastors ‘What To Do During These Dark Days’
Pastor Dewey Moede
I so love Pastor Don Kimbro! Pastor Don has been a mentor of mine for several years! Pastor Don has been preaching for many years, he remains so very strong in serving God’s people! I asked Pastor Don what he would tell Pastors what to do during in these dark days when so many are not going to Church and all the evil we see everyday right before us and that it is increasing rapidly. Thank you for addressing this issue Pastor Don!
Hi Dewey,
Let me defer to Dr. David Jeremiah’s wonderful new book which I just finished, Where Do We Go From Here? In his advice to pastors in these “last days” he counsels beginning with words from the apostle Paul: “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it” (Colossians 4:17). In other words, finish the work. Complete the task. Make sure by the end of your life you have also come to the end of your assigned earthly work. God has given you certain gifts for His glory and certain tasks for His kingdom. Make sure you complete the work God has assigned us.”
Paul also adds, “My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
“Where do we go from here? We go to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe the gospel alone can triumph over the many challenges we are facing in our culture and our world at this hour. Billy Graham in his final crusade in New York City in 2005 said, ‘I have one message: that Jesus Christ came, He died on a cross, He rose again, and He asked us to repent of our sins and receive Him by faith as Lord and Savior, and if we do, we have forgiveness of all our sins.'”
Dr. Jeremiah concluded, “That message is what confirmed it all to me as I listened to the great evangelist on the radio. He knew the gospel was the answer to any question, and he preached that gospel as if it were our only hope. Because it is!”
Pastors and teachers must do the same!
By the way, Dewey, Dr. Graham is now on SiriusXM 24-hours-per-day. Channel 460 around the clock!
Blessings,
Don
Most Catholics, Mainline Protestants Say Faith in God Not Required to Enter Heaven
More than three years after Pope Francis sparked a firestorm of religious debate by telling a young boy that his deceased atheist father might still end up in Heaven, a new study from the Pew Research Center shows a majority of Catholic and mainline Christians also believe people who don’t believe in God will go to Heaven.
Data for the study, conducted Sept. 20-26, was collected from a nationally representative sample of 6,485 U.S. adults.
Pew researchers decided for the first time to tackle deep philosophical questions like the meaning of life, the purpose of suffering and why bad things happen to people. The national study was released amid a backdrop of major life-changing events for many, most notably the coronavirus pandemic which has claimed millions of lives globally.
Lawlessness is Rapidly Growing in America, Brazen Robbers Storm Businesses In California, New Mexico, Minnesota and More
Living conditions in America are worsening because of many issues. We as a nation began going down hill very fast in the last 6 years. Politics has taken a great toll on our Country. We fight with each other, others live to hate others…. Politics is the playground of Satan. I do not know if I will ever get over of so many Christian leaders standing with evil politicians. This did great damage to the Bride of Christ. It has chased many from organized religion. I KNOW I HEAR FROM MANY FOLKS! Satan is thrilled. Lawlessness is increasing more rapidly now. So many Americans have not grown up in a Christian family and Church. Many were never given the opportunity, because their parents do not know better. They where unchurched. We have lost generation after generation. This started to happen years ago. Now we are paying a deep price for the Church in America not fulfilling the command of our LORD, THE GREAT COMMISSION. Jesus has all the answers for us in His Word, but too many Christians don’t pay attention to JESUS and His commands. How about the teaching of the Ten Commandments? All the issues we face as a Country and World are Spiritual. JESUS! is the only answer! Brazen robbers hit small businesses and big box stores
If you think our heroes, Law Enforcement Officers, can save us from this madness you are dreaming. This is a total society meltdown. It is not right to put all this on Law Enforcement, they are overwhelmed. I am so very, very thankful for our Law Enforcement Officers, I say to Sharon all the time now, Who would even wat to be a Police officer in America? Watch the TV program Dash Cam’ and you may get a deeper appreciation of what they go through!
Here in Albuquerque we have set a new record for the number of murders.
I always lay my hands on Sharon and pray over her each day she leaves for work and talk with Gretchen after her night shift at the Hospital. I stay in touch with are other kids daily and pray for them and our grand babies always! Love like Jesus, Team Jesus! We are living in a very dangerous Country. Satan is having his with with more and more everyday.
Best Buy store in Minnesota looted by 20-30 suspects; all get away, report says
A flash mob of 20 to 30 suspected looters struck a Best Buy electronics store in Minnesota on Black Friday and managed to get away before police arrived, according to a report.
Team Jesus, Let us all be in prayer over this very tragic situation. The news just gets worse for a state that has a cloud of death over it, the killing of God’s babies, record murder rate in Albuquerque, child abuse is high, child poverty is high, child hunger is high, legalized pot and home delivery of booze. The people of New Mexico have failed themselves. New Mexico needs missionaries to come here to minister to families. The Church in New Mexico is not getting getting it done! This is not a political problem, it is a spiritual issue. So many in New Mexico need JESUS!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2021
New Mexico Suicide Deaths Increase in 2020
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) announced today 520 New Mexico residents died by suicide in 2020; this is an increase of five suicides as compared to 2019. New Mexico had the fourth highest age-adjusted rate for suicides in the nation in 2019, (which is the most recent year for which US data are available). New Mexico had a crude suicide rate of 24.6 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2020, which is 23% higher than the crude rate in 2010 (19.9 deaths per 100,000 residents).
The Department of Health is working in numerous ways to implement a comprehensive, data-driven approach as recommended by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). This approach, based on the best available evidence as key to preventing suicide includes seven strategies:
· Strengthen Economic Supports
· Strengthen Access and Delivery of Suicide Care
· Create Protective Environments
· Promote Connectedness
· Teach Coping and Problem-Solving Skills
· Identify and Support People at Risk
· Lessen Harms and Prevent Future risk
Suicide can be prevented. The NMDOH is working with partners throughout the state to decrease the number of suicides in our state. Evidence based strategies being implemented by the department include convening of a statewide suicide prevention coalition and the creation of a strategic plan to be implemented by the coalition. The Department is implementing a program ensuring those who are seen in hospital emergency departments are referred for behavioral health follow up. People who are having thoughts of suicide feel relief after someone talks with them in a caring way. People are more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful after speaking with someone who listens without judgment. Acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce rather than increase ideation. NMDOH suicide prevention staff are participating on the implementation team for the 988 crisis line which will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, eliminating the need to remember longer phone numbers in a moment of crisis.
The NMDOH is also promoting effective ways to prevent suicide among youth, including peer-based approaches in which youth gatekeepers seek assistance for peers who may be at increased risk for suicide.
“The Department of Health is committed to a implementing a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention. Through collaboration with its sister agencies including the Human Services Department, we are committed to reducing these preventable deaths in all age groups in New Mexico,” said DOH/HSD Secretary Dr. David Scrase.
The most common means of suicide in 2020 were firearms (58%), suffocation/hangings (26%), and poisonings (10%). About half of individuals who died by suicide in 2020 were between the ages of 15 and 44. Furthermore, 26 of NM’s resident suicides occurred among children under 18 years of age in both 2020 and 2019. Individuals aged 55-64 years had a slight decrease in suicides from an age-specific rate of 28.5 deaths per 100,000 residents during 2019 to an age-specific rate of 22.5 deaths per 100,000 residents during 2020. Nearly four times as many males as females died by suicide in 2020. This is similar to the ratio between males and females in previous years.
The crude suicide rate for non-Hispanic whites decreased slightly from 33.0 deaths per 100,000 residents during 2019 to a crude rate of 31.5 deaths per 100,000 resident) during 2020. The southeast health region of NM had an increase in the crude suicide rate from rate 21.8 deaths per 100,000 residents during 2019 to 28.9 deaths per 100,000 residents during 2020. Conversely, the southwest health region had a decrease in suicides from 23.7 deaths per 100,000 residents during 2019 to 19.8 deaths per 100,000 residents during 2020. New Mexico counties with the highest crude suicide death rates in 2020 were San Juan, McKinley, and Bernalillo.
Suicide is complex issue influenced by a variety of personal and community risk and protective factors; therefore, addressing this public health issue at multiple levels is essential. Consequently,
If you or someone you know may be feeling suicidal or would like to talk with someone who can help, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741 741.
The Department of Health works to promote health and wellness, improve health outcomes, and deliver services to all New Mexicans. As New Mexico’s largest state agency, DOH offers public health services in all 33 counties and collaborates with 23 Native American tribes, Pueblos and nations.
This Post by Pastor Don Kimbro from 2015 still gets many reads here in 2021:
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” — 1 Peter 1:13-16
I once was called upon, in my role as a pastor, to write an affidavit in a legal case, in response to what I considered to be signs of a true conversion to the Christian faith. Have you ever thought about that? How would you articulate it? You’d probably start where I did—you would look for clear evidence of a change in character and behavior for the better, specifically in the things that Christians do and believe such as study God’s word, pray, go to church, join in the sacraments and fellowship with other believers (Acts 2:42-48). But have you ever thought of holiness as evidence of a true conversion—living a holy life? Holiness in its simplest sense means “set apart”—living a set apart life.
Now the Bible is very clear that no one but God can look into the human heart (1 Sam. 16:7), so we are warned to be very careful in making our judgments absolute—but Jesus was also very clear in his teaching that good fruit can only come from a good tree while bad fruit comes from a bad tree. In this parable Jesus was pointing to human beings and the source of their behavior (Mt. 3:10; 7:16-20). Even in the field of jurisprudence, there is a legal doctrine taken from our Lord’s discourse called, “The fruit of the poison tree,” which means that anything obtained from a tainted source is also tainted and must be avoided as legal evidence. Cases have been thrown out of court when the source was discovered to be rotten to the core.
The admonition from the apostle Peter is that God expects us to change when we get saved and our life-style should demonstrate it. Why? Because we’re saved by grace—we are born again and have become a new creation by the power of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:3-8; 2 Cor. 5:17).
If a person has really been converted there’s just no way we can go back to the same old sinful life-style, doing the same old evil things (2 Cor. 5:17). Our behavior must be altered. Eugene Peterson says it like this from The Message: “Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now.” Peter, in just four verses, explains holiness as a four step process.
The first instruction is to prepare your minds for action. I have a weakness for sports on TV. It’s about the only thing I can watch anymore that’s not sensual—that is if I avoid the commercials (and looking at the cheerleaders)! Have you noticed how individual athletes, when they are being interviewed, always talk about being focused—focused on the game at hand, not looking beyond the moment, focused on their game plan, focused on their individual assignments, focused on the opponents strengths and weaknesses, etc.—and then execute. All because they want to win the game. Well, that’s what Peter is telling us here. We focus on the matter at hand—which is living a set apart life and concentrate on what needs to be done to accomplish the goal.
The second step is to be self-controlled, literally “sober.” When people are under the influence of alcohol or drugs we all know that they often do crazy and destructive things. We see the evidence in our society all the time. Auto crashes, rapes, murders, anger, sexual promiscuity, verbal abuse, irrational behavior, etc. People do things while intoxicated that they would never do while sober because they are out of control. To be self-controlled in the spiritual sense, means to be under the control of the Holy Spirit, who enables us to think and act clearly and responsibly. Paul told the Ephesians in this regard, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).
The third step has to do with God’s grace in our behalf. As much as we try and justify ourselves in this life, it all comes down to the grace of God—his unmerited favor in our behalf (Eph. 2:8-9). Mark Twain made this point well: “Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out, and your dog would go in.”
The last step involves obedience and lack of conformity—obedience to God’s word and denial of our evil desires. Now I know we don’t like to think of ourselves as entertaining evil in our hearts—but in case you haven’t looked in the mirror lately or read what God’s word says about us—our fallen nature is evil to the core. Jeremiah cried out, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jere. 17:9 KJV). Isaiah added, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away” (Isa. 64:6). Paul admonished the Romans (and us), “There is no one righteous, not even one;” and “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:10, 23). Not a very pretty picture of our fallen nature that still haunts us, is it?
God instructs us to be holy in all we do. There’s no wiggle room. No part time holiness—part time worldliness. We should strive for perfection so that all will know that we, as God’s people, are different.
Holiness demands that the world knows who we belong to. Is it obvious by the way we live our lives? Is it obvious to our neighbors? Where we work? To our friends? To our family? Let’s make a decision that will remove any doubts. That’s what holiness is all about. Maranatha!
