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Drawing Nearer to God, Part 3: The Bible, daily bread, not a buffet line
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Drawing Nearer to God, Part 3: The Bible, daily bread, not a buffet line

By Scott K. James | Commentary, ScottKJames.com Bible reading isn’t a buffet. God gives us daily bread – just enough light for the next step. Even one verse can draw us closer to Him. This is Part Three of my seven-part Drawing Nearer to God series. I heard my pastor talk about “drawing nearer to God,” and I found myself wondering - how do I actually do that? So I did what I always do: I started digging, Googling, and writing. Now I’m sharing what I’ve discovered along the way. Here’s my confession: when it comes to reading the Bible, I’ve always felt like I’m supposed to eat a buffet but end up grabbing a granola bar. You know the feeling. Somebody at church brags about finishing the Bible in a year. Another friend quotes entire Psalms like he’s got the thing tattooed on his brai...
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The Sword of the Spirit – Transformative Power
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The Sword of the Spirit – Transformative Power

By Pastor Drake Hunter | Commentary, Elevating Life Church “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 ~ When I was younger, I was fascinated with Disneyland in Anaheim, California. My dad had worked there, and my mom had books on Walt Disney—how he dreamed up new worlds, turned them into concepts, and then made them a reality. We’d watch shows about the planning, the struggles, and the breakthroughs. Then we’d stand in the park itself, surrounded by castles, rides, and lands that once existed only in his imagination. What struck me most was how a vision didn’t just stay in one man’s head—it became a place his family and millions of others could experience and enjoy. That’s the kind of transformation...
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The Sword of the Spirit: Trailblazing with Common Sense
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The Sword of the Spirit: Trailblazing with Common Sense

By Pastor Drake Hunter | Commentary, Elevating Life Church Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  ~ Hebrews 12:1–2 ~ Imagine you’re standing at the edge of a thick, wild forest. The trees tower, the brush is dense, and the way forward looks impossible. Behind you are people who need a path—your family, your friends, maybe even your whole community. Then you notice the weight in your hand. It’s not just any tool. It’s a sword, not for decoration, not for collecting dust, but for clearing a way forward and defending against hidden dangers. At that...
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How early Christians stood against Rome, Part 2
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How early Christians stood against Rome, Part 2

By Russ Minary | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Editor’s note: Douglas County resident Russ Minary first wrote this devotional in 2013 and felt prompted to share it now, in a season when revival is stirring across communities. This is Part 2 of a two-part series. Read Part 1 here. Every spiritual movement takes place in a practical way, from person to person, in the real world. Miracles did take place, the faith spread, and the church grew, for a few reasons which I provide here. Please note that this is entirely conjecture, but I believe that it aligns with Scripture and historical fact, and the context of the times in which it took place.   Here are nine principles that were used by the early church to survive and thrive in a world that was openly hostile to th...
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Drawing Nearer to God, Part 2: Prayer—the discipline we resist but our soul needs most
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ScottKJames.com, Approved, Commentary, National

Drawing Nearer to God, Part 2: Prayer—the discipline we resist but our soul needs most

By Scott K. James | Commentary, ScottKJames.com This is Part Two of my seven-part Drawing Nearer to God series. I heard my pastor talk about “drawing nearer to God,” and I found myself wondering - how do I actually do that? So I did what I always do: I started digging, Googling, and writing. Now I’m sharing what I’ve discovered along the way. I’ll just say it up front: prayer is the discipline nobody really wants. I struggle with it – bigly! Sure, we want the results of prayer – comfort, peace, maybe even a miracle or two. But the act of prayer itself? Sitting down, bowing my head, and actually talking to the Creator of the universe? That part’s hard. I’ve been a Christian for almost 30 years, and I still wrestle with prayer. Some days it feels like I’m talking to the...
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The Sword of the Spirit: Defense in the Advance
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The Sword of the Spirit: Defense in the Advance

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, Elevating Life Church "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." ~ Psalm 119:11 ~ It’s football season in Colorado, and for us Broncos fans, there’s nothing like watching a defense stand tall. Sure, a flashy offense may steal the highlights, but every fan knows the truth: defense wins championships. Some of the most unforgettable Bronco victories weren’t just about touchdowns; they were about stops, interceptions, and holding the line when it mattered most. Now, imagine this: if truth represents the ball in play, the one thing that must cross the goal line to score points, then where does defense fit into the game of life for the Christian? Is a believer called to play defense, holding ground so the enemy can’t advance?...
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Drawing Nearer to God: An Average Joe’s 7-Part Journey of Faith
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Drawing Nearer to God: An Average Joe’s 7-Part Journey of Faith

By Scott K. James | Commentary, ScottKJames.com Drawing nearer to God sounds great – but how do ordinary believers actually do it? Join this 7-part Scott Sheet Sunday series to find out. Last Sunday, my pastor said something that’s stuck with me all week. He talked about “drawing nearer to God in times of trouble.” That sounds amazing, doesn’t it? Poetic. Comforting. Instagram-worthy. But here’s the question I couldn’t shake: how, exactly, do I do that? Because if you’re anything like me, you’ve heard these phrases in church for years. “Seek God.” “Pursue His presence.” “Draw near to Him.” They roll off the tongue like we all have a built-in GPS that beeps every time we’re taking a step closer to the Almighty. But let’s be honest: most of us are just Average Joes and Ja...
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The Shield of Faith: The Final Move – Who Do You Want to Be?
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The Shield of Faith: The Final Move – Who Do You Want to Be?

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice “Who do you want to be today… who do you want to be?” – Devo If you knew me back in the 80s, or if you’ve read my devotions or heard me preach, you know I wasn’t grooving to synth-pop or rocking parachute pants. I was a hard rocker through and through. Zeppelin, Dio, Ozzy… those were my peeps. My soul leaned into guitar solos, not synthesizers. But recently, I caught myself humming a Devo tune—yeah, that Devo—the 1984 track “Who Do You Want to Be Today?” And it struck me: that quirky little lyric actually echoes something Jesus asked long before the ‘80s ever got weird. Jesus said it better, and with eternal weight: “Follow Me.” Devo asked a fun question; however, Jesus asked a life-altering one. “Who do you want to be today?” ...
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Faith over fear: How Christians can stand strong when the world unravels
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Faith over fear: How Christians can stand strong when the world unravels

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. ~ Genesis 1:2–3 Long, long ago…God brought order to chaos—and He’s still doing it today. How? Through our acts of faith. While chaos bullies its way into our lives uninvited, faith rolls out the welcome mat for God's power to bring order, peace, and purpose (Luke 24:49). Let’s talk about chaos. Not just the kind playing out on the news, but the kind that shows up in your story, in childhood wounds, military mayhem, workplace drama, and ministry madness. For me, chaos wasn’t a stranger. It was a full-time roommate. I grew up with it, wore i...
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Devotional: The darkroom where truth becomes life
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Devotional: The darkroom where truth becomes life

By Pastor Drake Hunter | Commentary, Elevating Life Church There was something sacred about that small darkroom in my father’s house. During those custody visits with my dad, I recall slipping into a mysterious room filled with the faint scent of chemicals, the dim red glow, and the quiet hum of transformation. It wasn’t just a room — it was a portal where blurry, black-and-white film strips turned into full-color memories. My dad loved photography, and this was back in the ancient days before smartphones and digital everything. Back then, taking a picture wasn’t instant gratification; it was a process for sure. First, you got a negative, that is, a backward, inverted, and mysterious image, hidden in its own shadows. It didn’t look like much. But then came the illusion: ...
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