Arrived at end of rainbow, Lake St. Louis, I-64. Then drove under the full rainbow on Hwy 364 headed for our house in St. Peters.

Pictures from recent trip to Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, with oldest grandson, Elijah Bernard, age 16.

Mon: time off, dentist, swam, some calls. Tues-Wed: in office, St Louis, recorded videos, Loan Fund Zoom meeting. Wed-Fri: North American Youth Congress (NAYC), Indianapolis, IN; 36,000 registrants; teaching young ministers session Fri AM.

With #NAYC25 set to begin later this week, I look back at my days as a student and young adult and share advice and insights to help today's Apostolic students live out God's purpose for their lives. Listen/Watch now. 📷: 📷:

Tue-Wed: Work at home, some time off. Thur-Fri: in office, St Louis, spoke to Global Missions leaders (executives, regional directors, area coordinators). Sat: pastoral installation, Chula Vista (San Diego), CA, Amado Huizar. Sun: New Life Austin, TX, Pastor Rodney Shaw.

Acts 15, the apostles & elders (ministers from local churches) gathered at what we can call the first general conference to decide whether Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised & keep the law of Moses.

In Acts 6, the apostles stipulated that the deacons be full of the Holy Spirit & wisdom. After the assembly chose them, the apostles commissioned them for service through prayer & laying on of hands.

We find shared governance in the NT church. In Acts 6, the apostles convened a meeting of all believers to manage church business. The assembly chose 7 men to administer business affairs under the apostles, so the latter could devote more time to prayer & preaching.

Fri-Sat: preached Utah Conference, West Jordan, UT, Rocky Mountain District, 8 churches, 2 received Holy Ghost. Sun: Salt Lake City, Pastor Ron Rice. Sun PM & Mon: visited Capitol Reef National Park, hiked with Elijah.

Family time last week: Tues dinner with Lindsey & family, Wed dinner & church with Daniel & family, Thur saw Jonathan at SCTX camp. Fri-Mon; took oldest grandson, Elijah, on trip to Utah.

July 7-8, Mon-Tues: in office, St Louis, racquetball with youth execs, Resolutions Committee orientation. Wed: Sterling Heights, MI, Pastor Daniel Bernard. Thur: Visited South Central Texas Camp, New Life, Austin, TX.

July 2-5: Nova Scotia District Camp, Miller Lake, Halifax, NS, Canada, preached Thurs PM, 3 received Holy Ghost, taught Fri & Sat AM. Sun, July 6: Preached in Halifax, NS, Pastor Justin MacKenzie.

Even the highest leaders are accountable to one another and to the collective leadership. (See Acts 21:17-26; Gal 2:8-14.).

What is the spiritual gift of “discerning of spirits” mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:10? How does it work, and can we see it in action today? Listen/Watch to learn about this often-misunderstood spiritual gift. 📷: 📷:

The principle of accountability applies to everyone, including leaders & ministers. Indeed, leaders have authority because they are under authority. (See Luke 7:8; John 13:3-17.).

All Christians should submit to spiritual leadership (Heb 13:7, 17). Of course, only God’s authority is absolute; we follow leaders as they follow Christ (1 Cor 11:1).

In the NT, all believers are priests to God (1 Pet 2:5-9). As such, each has a voice & should participate in the worship, life, ministry, governance of the local church.

In healthy churches, everyone is accountable to spiritual leadership & to one another. We are accountable first to God but also to family, spiritual leaders, spiritual peers, and the body.

If smoking is a sin because it harms the body, what about binging on sweets, soda, and junk foods which contribute to obesity, diabetes, and other health problems? Listen/Watch as I respond to this important question. 📷: 📷:

What is Christian nationalism? Should American Christians embrace or avoid this ideology? Listen/Watch as I explain “Christian Nationalism" and examine Christianity's influence on our founding, history, and culture. 📷: 📷: