From the Home Place

September 13, 2025

Dear readers, I will always attempt to speak truth with and to you because of my respect for you and because of my love for God. Today, I’m going to jump into a topic that I feel rather inadequate to discuss, so we all need to pray for wisdom and discernment as I write and as you read. I know that some will disagree with my statements, and that is fine. I just ask that you disagree from a biblical view and not just from a view put together from hear-say or theory.

In reference to the “end of the age,” Jesus made this comment in Matthew 24:4, “See to it that no one misleads you.” For the past fifty years, many have been misled by false teachers. Some of those false teachers have been pastors, and in my opinion, many have come from our college and university campuses. For all of my secular higher education years, I read from their books and have listened to their lectures of how “only ignorant people believe in the God of the Bible and in absolute truth.”

In my mind, it is these two statements that have been driven into the minds of young people for at least half-of-a century, to the point that the majority of Americans now believe these two statements to be true. Oh yes, it begins way before college-age students are indoctrinated to turn against God. It begins in grade school when the state teachers are required to teach the “facts” of evolution. So called facts that spit directly into the face of God.

Let’s just say that you as parents take you little one to Sunday School at a church of your choosing. A church that loves your little ones and teaches them that they are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image. That God Himself spoke all of the world around them into creation. Your child hears these amazing stories from a Bible teacher and comes home excited about what they have learned.

Fast forward a couple of years and they enter public school, where now their loving teacher begins to explain the “theory” of evolution. A teaching that was not declared to be absolute truth by the man who developed it. He himself said that it was his personal theory, and near the end of his life stated that, “I might have been wrong.” This theory was adopted by those great professors who have taught our teachers for decades that this theory is absolute truth and that they should teach it with confidence. Not only are they now equipped to teach this theory by their institutes of higher learning, but they are now required to teach by their state government.

So these dear teachers teach your child about evolution, in direct conflict with the “stories” their Sunday School teacher taught them. Now you child has to make a very serious decision, which teacher is telling them the truth, they one who teaches them five days a week, or the one who teaches them for a few minutes once a week.

I pause here to remind each of us of the old Native American statement, “Inside every person there is a white dog and a black dog, which one is the strongest? The one you feed the most.” Five days a week versus one hour per week??? As I stated earlier, the theory of evolution is in direct conflict with biblical teaching.

Now, if the above story describes the experience of your little ones, and quite likely the story describes your life as well, now we have a conflicted mind. A conflicted mind that has been the ploy of Satan since the time of creation. Genesis 3:1-2, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had created. And he said to the woman, “indeed, has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?’” (Note the “?” at the end of the statement.)

Satan planted a seed of doubt in Eve’s mind, and that seed of doubt still grows today. You see my friends, a person either follows God, or has doubts about God, nothing new. The part that greatly concerns me is this: In today’s culture, I am told that I need to accept opinions and lifestyles that do not align with biblical teaching, but then when I refuse to do so, I’m branded as the one who is the “enemy” of higher learning.

Where does the “tolerance” go when a person like Charlie Kirk openly says that we need to follow the God of the Bible instead the god of this world? It is at this point in the life of the United States of America, that the conflict started in Genesis 3 is lived out and the murder of Genesis 4 is carried out!

I return to where we began two days ago, we are a conflicted nation. And as with all conflict, I shoot at the solder of the enemy. It seems to me that therein lies the problem, we see different opinions as an enemy instead of realizing that Satan is our true enemy.

Declaration, I am not angry at public school teachers who get their orders from a federal system that threatens to withhold financial assistance if local schools and teachers don’t play by their “Big Brother” rules. And parents, if you want your child to love God, you must work hard at balancing the time and truth ratio that your child receives.

I’m simply stating what I believe men such as Charlie Kirk stated, “I am not your enemy.” Satan always has been and always will be the enemy of anyone who desires to follow God. This is a spiritual war, not a physical war, though it is played out in the physical realm. It seems that the only decision is which dog will I feed the most? “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Feeding the white dog with you, Neal

September 12, 2025

Everyone knows, when your horse bucks you off, get back on and go again. That is, after you catch him again. Most often if your horse bucks you off, he will then run away and leave you stranded. It may be that many Christians are feeling like their horse bucked them off, and run away.

It’s normal to feel like God has failed us when things go bad in our world. In fact, there are even times that it feels like He has dumped us off and then ran away from us. However, the truth is that we fell off, and He is standing right there waiting for us to get back on.

Romans 5:3-5, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character, and proven character, hope.” This is the Apostle Paul’s response to getting bucked off.

Please note, “hope” is the final outcome, however there is a very intentional process for getting to “hope.” First, we have to recognize the “tribulation,” the trial – getting bucked off, as a good thing, if we allow the Holy Spirit to help us. In this illustration, the Holy Spirit is that person riding with us, who goes and gathers our horse for us to get back onto.

So, tribulation comes, what we do with it is up to us. I’ve never known a good cowboy who hasn’t been bucked off plenty of times. Trials will happen to each of us, and they will make us better or bitter, our choice.

O.K. back to Romans 5 – After we stay with the process, we prove that our character is developing into the character of Jesus Christ, and now we get to “hope.” In this passage “hope” is a sense of assurance that the Holy Spirit is riding right alongside of us and that He is there to help when life bucks us off.

Yesterday, we looked at the hopelessness of our society. To finish our equation: sin = fear = hatred = hopelessness. Because our culture seems to be very sin focused, they need to see Christians as people of “hope.” Our neighbors need to see and hear that we are a hopeful people! So, now, remember how we become hopeful – through trials that produce a Christ-like character as we get back on again and again.

Through my years of working with horses, there was always that one that I knew was going to try to buck me off sometime during our day of work. Yep, life today seems to be that same way doesn’t it? All we can do is stay attentive and be ready for it when it happens, because if that is the only horse we have in the corral, that is the one we have to ride today.

So, my friend, pull your hat down tight and enjoy the ride. Who knows, today might just be the day that you actually ride the bucking bugger! But if not, be sure to get back on and keep riding, praising God that His process is at work within your life!

Getting back in the saddle with you, Neal

September 11, 2025

As we remember the events of this date, once again the hearts of Christians are saddened. It grieved my heart greatly to hear of the death of Charlie Kirk. If you will recall, in my last writing I stated, “I believe persecution will come to America, it’s just a matter of ‘When?”” Well, I guess that question has been answered for us.

But just like 9\11, this attack was unexpected and driven by hatred. Here is my two cents: In Genesis Chapter 3 we see that the human reaction to sin is fear, (v.10) by Chapter 4, that fear has transformed into hatred and we read of the first murder ever committed (v. 8).

It seems that today we continue that same cycle. America tends to be a breeding ground for sin. The result of rampant sin is extreme fear. It would appear that we Americans on the average are fearful of everyone and everything. Yet, Jesus states “Fear not” over 300 times in the Bible. Why? Because fear leads to hatred and hatred leads to murder in the name of personal freedom.

Just like in the many events of history, people walk away from actual truth and adopt a pretend truth. You see, there is actual truth – Jesus stated, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Jesus also declared that He came to earth “to bear witness to the truth.” Again, a person without real truth, will soon adopt sin as truth, leading to a fearful life, leading to hatred, leading to violence against those who speak truth.

George Orwell once stated, “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” Well, here we are.

So, as born-again Christians living in America, are we going to continue our Sunday morning holy huddle and then retreatc to our homes? Or, are we going to gather to worship the living God, to be encouraged and strengthened by other believers and truth-filled lessons, and then walk into our communities with courage and a boldness to do our part in advancing the kingdom of God? Remember, just before leading Israel into the Promised Land, Joshua was challenged to “Be strong and courageous.”

Our strength comes from the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, not our education about being courageous Christians. Jesus told His first disciples, as well as us, “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” The Greek word used here for “power” is “dynamin,” from which we derive our English word dynamite. Dynamite can be used for great good, or terrible evil. It’s time that we Christians begin to use our God-given power for the good of those around us and for the glory of the amazing God we serve!

The “courage” comes from being in right relationship with God and realizing that we have the “power” to do anything He calls us to do. “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.” It is time to live the TRUTH with courage!

As a dear saint once said, “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”(Joshua 24:15) Joshua was challenging his people to choose between that which their culture called truth and that which their God called truth. You too get to choose which one you will follow.

Choosing biblical truth with you, Neal

September 9, 2025

Tuesday, 5:30 a.m., 43 degrees. The weather man is predicting a 55 percent chance of rain today. But then toward the bottom of the page he lists the amount as “o.o4 inches.” Fifty-five percent sounds good, but the four-hundredths sure isn’t going to amount to much. If we get any, it won’t be enough to help with the drought that we are experiencing.

That’s the way with the false religions of today, they sound good, but don’t amount to much. They make big promises of bringing healing into your life. They predict that your family will be stronger, and your life will have real meaning, as long as you give your check to them on a regular basis.

Yet as we plant Bible-based churches across the west, we are seeing many folks stepping away from the false religions and embracing Jesus as Savior. It is truly an amazing thing to step out of the darkness and into the light!

Though we may not see people come to Him by the hundreds here in the states, across the world that is exactly what is happening. However, those conversions are usually coming with great persecution. In many countries, to follow Jesus costs a person everything, including losing family and friends. Yet, many are turning to Jesus as Savior!

Just like the forecasted rain, I believe persecution will come to America as well, it’s just a matter of “When?” The good thing about persecution is that it makes stronger Christians. I think that is what Abraham was speaking about when he said, “I will not give anything to my God that cost me nothing.” Up to this point it has been a free meal to follow Jesus in this country. Though, as we have been told for years, “there is no such thing as a free meal.”

It cost Jesus His life to establish His church, but to join it costs us nothing. So today’s question is, “Is that really what Jesus said?” In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 9, verse 23 we read, “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.’ You see, the cross has always been a place of death! It was for Jesus, and it is supposed to be for His followers as well.

In the Greek language the word “deny” is an interesting command. To “deny himself” literally means to “disown” self. I am to give ownership of myself to someone else, and we seem to be really good at that. We American Christians often give ourselves to things that are ungodly: lust, fame, fortune, self… With our easy access to most anything a person could want, it is extremely easy to satisfy self rather than “deny” self.

You see my friends, the problem is that we tend to be very selfish. So rather than denying myself, I pamper myself with all the pleasures of this world. As a result, our faith tends to be weak. Jesus does not tell us to “deny” self because He doesn’t want us to enjoy our life, He gives us that command so that we can get self out of the way and focus upon the Savior! And when we “deny” self and focus upon the Savior, true joy and happiness invade our lives. That’s what it looks like to step away from a false religion and into the truth of Scripture, we become self-less!

You see, it is going to rain, the question is “When?” Persecution is coming, the question is “When?” Stronger Christians are coming to America, the question is “When?” May today be the day that we “deny” self and embrace the Savior

Denying self with you, Neal

September 8, 2025

As I mentioned yesterday, it is archery elk season, one of my favorite times of the year! Every since I was just a boy, I have been mesmerized by the bugle of a bull elk. You can tell a lot about a bull just by listening to his call. A high-pitched call usually comes from a young bull. A deep guttural growl is most often the mark of an old monarch. A short, low pitch call comes from a lazy bull, one who isn’t really excited about the rut, yet.

Then there are the cow and calf calls. A calf call is called a chirp, short in duration and high in pitch. A cow elk mews, while a bull bugles. Yet as all experienced elk hunters will tell you, not all elk sound the same and not all calls work on all elk.

Personally, I like using a mouth diaphragm call, but I have heard plenty of guys do well with reed calls. I personally think that using electronic calls is cheating. An electronic call is a device that plays the actual call of a real-live bull or cow elk.

So now, let’s shift gears for a moment. Jesus stated, “No one comes to me unless the Father call them.” Much like calling elk, we Christians sometimes attempt to imitate the way pre-Christians talk. For some reason we think if we cuss and act like they do, they will accept us and become a Christian just like us. The problem is that seems to be true, but in my experience, it seldom produces fully devoted Christ-followers.

You see, it doesn’t matter if I’m calling elk, or if I’m calling unbelievers, my call has to sound, look and feel like the real thing. Now I can’t do that until I really understand the nature of the one I’m calling. When calling people, all ll I can do is to attempt to make my call sound very much like the real call – God calling someone to salvation in Christ Jesus. And I can’t do that without first knowing what God’s voice really sounds like.

The best any of us can do is to imitate the call of God. It is up to Him to genuinely call a person to salvation, and just like with calling elk, it’s up to the person to decide to respond to the call. Even if I was an expert elk caller, which I am not, it’s up to the elk to respond, or not. I can’t force them to answer the call and come toward me. The best I can do is practice my calls, believe in my calls and pray that a mature bull will answer my call and come my direction.

The same is true with people, we can’t force them, it’s up to the Master Caller to speak to their heart and draw them to faith in Jesus. Please hear me, your call sounds differently than my call and that’s just fine, yet none of us know which call a pre-Christian will answer. Only one thing is for sure, if we don’t call, it’s really difficult for them to respond.

So, I’m going to go practice my elk calls, and my people calls – praying someone will answer one of them.

Calling pre-Christians with you, Neal

September 6, 2025

As we begin another day, the Holy Spirit just reminded me that it is really easy to get stuck in the normal. I got up again. I read from the Scriptures, again. I’m sitting at my computer to write, again. Today, I have my plans of how things should go, again.

Then He really challenged me that when I read a familiar passage of Scripture to not respond with “Well, I just read that passage, again.” Today’s reading in Psalm 114 reminded me of how God worked to part the Red Sea for the nation of Israel as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land. I was reminded of how God rolled back the Jordan, during flood stage, to allow His people to walk across on dry ground. I once again read of how God brought a flood of water out of a rock to care for His people and their critters. Yep, I read all of that again and almost went on about today’s events unchallenged and unchanged.

You see dear friends, we need to stop and chew on all Scripture passages for a bit, instead of just reading them “again!” Put yourself among the one million plus people who walked across where the Red Sea once had them boxed in. Feel the fear as an enemy army is coming to destroy you and your family! Feel the need to hustle across on dry ground where there had been an obstacle just moments ago. Watch as God brings the waters upon Pharaoh’s army in judgment. Fall to your knees and praise God for being who He is, again!

Most of us will face a difficult situation today, or within a few days. We will panic, and then we will do what needs to be done to get through that situation, because that’s what we do. NO! If we get through that threat, it’s because God has done what He does, AGAIN!

Lord help us, may we not witness God doing something amazing for us and then respond with something like, “I sure was lucky.” Dear people, may we today, stop and “Praise the Lord” for His amazing grace. Grace that allows us to live another day. Grace that gives us energy to face with courage whatever difficulty we must face. Grace that allows us to shout, “Praise the Lord!” again and again.

So don’t just live life one more day, again. Instead live in the moments of your life, no matter how many times you may have passed this way before. Agreed, it may not be a Red Sea moment for you today, but it will be a moment when Almighty God does something totally amazing for you, or around you. Please, don’t allow yourself to miss His workings, again.

Making today special with you, Neal

September 2, 2025

Greetings friends. With Labor Day behind us, it is time to get to work. Not just our work, but the work of advancing the kingdom of our King! We older folks fully know that we too are in the fall of our lives, and that winter is coming. Could the same be said for this world system? Time here on earth is in the fall of its life, and winter is coming.

This morning I started reading Acts 1, being challenged by 1:8 to be His “witness” on a daily basis. Then on to the Ascension of Jesus Christ – the disciples were caught standing around, staring into the sky. Perhaps it’s time for today’s Christians to quit sky gazing and get to work in the field. After all, He said we need more laborers, and fewer spectators, “for the harvest is plentiful.” We need to get to work.

In Acts 2 the church is born! Jesus promised to build His church, not mine, nor yours. Could it be that we, I, spend so much time doing so many things for our church that we neglect working with our Master to build His church? How often do I forget that Jesus is the King and I am the servant? How often do I forget that the Holy Spirit was given to help us do the work that Jesus called us to do? Has He not told us to “make disciples” who are passionate about loving Jesus, not followers of the newest method of church growth.

Fall is in the air and winter is coming. Spiritual winter is that time when things get very difficult. That time when days are shorter, effort is greater, and survival is often threatened. Winter is a time of spirituality becoming cold and blustery. As such, the warm days of eternity become the focus. Yep, winter is coming, it’s time to get to work, before the snow flies (2 Tim. 3:1)!

Today is the day the Lord has made, may we rejoice and be glad in it! Perhaps we should all roll-up our sleeves and get to work, His work? Now read 2 Timothy 3, yep all of it. Pay close attention to how the chapter ends, “equipped for every good work.”

Loved ones, it is time to get to work because winter is coming.

Working for the King, with you, Neal

September 1, 2025

How was your “family reunion” yesterday? I pray that you were able to really enjoy being with your church family. Like all other families, they are most likely not perfect, but they are still a very special group of folks.

Yesterday, Miss Deb and I bid the dear folks of Lance Creek “farewell.” For the last three months we have served this amazing little church family. They have completely captured our hearts with their kindness and a great willingness to learn. One thing is for sure, our “family” has grown during our time at Lance Creek.

After telling the folks at Lance Creek “farewell,” we then hurried to our home church in Lusk to participate in a special party to raise support for our newest church planters. Once again, God was very kind in helping a young family follow their dream of advancing His kingdom here on this ball of dirt. It was totally fun to watch the Taylor’s church family love on them! Yesterday our Lusk church family also celebrated ten-years of ministry in this area! (more on that tomorrow) By the way, yesterday was the first time I have been back with my home church family for three months, it’s good to be back home.

Like I said, yesterday was a day of farewell and hello for us in relation to our church families. It was also a day for all of us to tell August “Farewell” and to greet September with a big “Hello!” Yep another month of your life has passed by, how did it go for you in regard to the people around you. Were they blessed because you played a special part of their lives? Were they encouraged to walk closer with Jesus because they spent a month watching you live an “active” faith? Did you bless someone with your kind hospitality?

If so, way to go! If not, then September brings opportunities for you to improve your relationships with those God brings across your path. May this new month find us saying “Farewell” to being too busy as we say “Hello” to having folks over for a meal. As we greet opportunities to speak words of kindness into the lives of folks who are struggling. May we each step into a deeper walk with Jesus! Yep, this new month holds many opportunities for each of us, we get to decide to step into those God-given moments, or to hurry back into our safe place. I pray He will find each of us faithful!

Saying “Hello” to watching God work in and through our lives with you, Neal