If you’ve got questions about scripture, we’ve got answers. Well, Jeremy does.

Dr. Jeremy Grinnell earned his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI, and taught theology at a local seminary for nearly 15 years. He takes on your Bible questions in this episode.

Here’s what you asked:

• As Christians we are supposed to love one another, be kind and gentle. However, there are evil people in this world, narcissists that just want to devour you. When do you protect your heart? When do you stand up for yourself and not just get rolled over and taken advantage of once again?
• If God tells us to not commit murder how does that work with war? And does that mean people in the Army are sinning?
• Since God is "all knowing " why is there going to be a judgement day?
• Help me explain how Old Testament Believers are saved versus being saved through belief and faith in JESUS.....
• In Revelation 22:2 the leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. If they are already in heaven, isn't healing already there? What do the leaves have to do with it?

Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wgnb

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pride can ruin a good thing. Perry admits it was ruining his relationship with Shawna.

So often when we feel offended, we get defensive and power up. But in scripture we’re told, “If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody”. Do we have it in us to get along with everybody?

It was an April evening of Perry’s sophomore year at Olivet. He was driving back to campus from his girlfriend’s house when he saw a farmer driving his tractor in his field and it made him think, “My life needs to change.”

Within days of being diagnosed with a brain tumor Shawna’s friend courageously shared she was choosing to praise God whether she was healed or not. Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, we are not alone in the fire. It’s Jesus WITH US who gives us the courage to say, “Even if…I will praise God.”

Lastly, financial advisor, Rob West, of Faith and Finance Live, imparts wisdom regarding lending money to friends, budgeting that will last beyond most New Year’s resolutions, and whether or not now is a good time to buy a house.

Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wgnb

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing up with an alcoholic father, Melissa struggled from a young age with feelings of fear and abandonment and yearned for acceptance. During her teen years, however, she found a temporary escape through alcohol, and the consequences quickly consumed fifteen years of her life – blackouts, withdrawals, run-ins with the law, reckless behavior, and overwhelming guilt.

Melissa Huray, Emmy-award winning news reporter turned addiction counselor, and author of the 365 day devotional Radical Freedom: Breaking the chains of Addiction for Good opens up about how she found radical freedom through surrender.

With the wisdom and training of a counselor and the heart of understanding of one who suffered from addiction, Melissa talks openly with Perry and Shawna about shame, the need for community in your recovery, and how God can take even our worst mistakes and use them for good.

Also in this podcast, when Perry’s daughter Kali Joy was 16 she prayed, “Lord I want to know what it looks like to live like I have nothing to lose.” The Lord answered that prayed in a really painful yet powerful way that not only affected Kali but also the rest of the family. It pushed this truth more deeply into their hearts, “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”

Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wgnb

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That’s what Jeannie found herself praying just after she woke a couple weeks ago. She sensed a distance.

Sometimes we know that God is right here, right now. And sometimes we feel like he’s far away. Is it a matter of trusting what we know or is it a prompt to turn from sin in our lives?

Jeannie Cunnion, author of Closer to God: a 40 Day Pursuit of God’s Personal Presence says it could be both!

Jeannie shares, “I spent my whole life till I was 25 performing for Jesus!” It’s a conversation about the massive difference between religion and the gospel.

One of the benefits of the closeness of God is His empowering presence. Shawna shares a time she was battling what she should do vs. what she wanted to do and asked the Holy Spirit to help her. And He did!

As a teenager Perry’s dad was in the confession booth and noticed a cross with lipstick on it. In that moment he thought of the passage, “My people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” It’s a conversation about how repentance is meant to be life-giving, not something we do to get God to love us.

Also in this podcast:

When you’re in the presence of God you will know His purpose for your life. In The Message’s version of John 15:17 Jesus invites us into an intimate and organic relationship with Him. As we learn to do life with God, He will lead us into our God-given purpose day by day.

Last, one evening when Perry was 18, he was playing hoops. He went up for a rebound and came down on somebody’s foot. That excruciatingly painful ankle sprain turned the trajectory of Perry’s life toward Jesus.

Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wgnb

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Curtis’ radio career has drawn to a close at 89.3 Moody Radio Grand Rapids. It’s been 35 plus years of steady, “never-say-die” ministry for Scott. But there were really hard seasons. Like the 8 years he worked alone at 89.3.

There were moments in that span when yes, he “just got downright depressed.” But one thing always lifted him out of the dark: It’s a conversation about how small acts of kindness can make all the difference.

Scott’s career has been one marked by humility, by his stepping back from the spotlight to work more and more behind the scenes. He willingly stepped back when Perry joined the team and then when Shawna joined. Scott’s career path gives us a path to follow in a world where “It’s all about me.”

Scott had good reason to believe that WGNB might become a repeater station for Moody. At just the right time God provided above and beyond what was needed to keep us on the air. Scott reflects on God’s faithfulness and how just when you think it’s over, it’s just beginning.

In the nearly 8 years that Scott was the only person manning the station he experienced the power of community from a faraway friend who made some phone calls to get Scott the help he desperately needed.

If Scott’s ministry has encouraged you, text him at 800.968.8930!

Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wgnb

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are you hoping for this Christmas? Shawna is hoping for good rest. What she really needs is God rest. Rest for her soul! It’s the gift God wants to give you!

After a life-time of trial and error Perry is convinced, “My performance will never get me the verdict that I’m a good person.” There is only one way to get that longed-for verdict.

Sometimes we choose to take matters into our own hands rather than trusting God. Because of a traumatic experience with her daughter’s dog, Shawna vowed never to buy green grapes ever again! Vows are ways of baking into our hearts, “God, I don’t really trust you.”

During the last 3 years of Perry’s mom’s life, she descended into the fog of some dementia. At she began the descent, she admitted to Perry’s dad, “I just don’t think I want to go on living.” But then 8 words from Jesus gave her the strength to go on.

“I don’t need you to rescue me!” comes from deep within Shawna. She resisted every offer for help when she got stuck in the ditch during a snowstorm even though there was no way she would get out on her own. Rescue starts with laying down our pride.

Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wgnb

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesus came to us as a baby at Christmas time. And Jesus still comes intimately close to us now.

Sometimes He comes into the darkness reminding us that He is the Light of the World.

Steve Norman of Winning at Home & host of The New Norm Podcast has written a devotional to help us ready our hearts to celebrate Jesus’ coming. It’s called Countdown to Christmas.

At a time when he was sitting in physical darkness and feeling ashamed, Jesus came to Steve through the words of his 4-year-old son singing, “This Little Light of Mine.”

As Steve was hitting the wall in the 17th mile of a marathon he was ill-prepared to run, Jesus ran next to him through words of encouragement from fellow runners.

Jesus comes and meets us where we are. Eugene Peterson says in The Message “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.”

Jesus is Immanuel, God with us!

Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wgnb

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That’s what the last couple years for Perry has felt like. Starting in 2021 with a 90% blockage in his Widow-Maker artery. But Perry can honestly say, “I’m thankful for every hardship.” What?? It’s because of what God does in us through our suffering. That he can’t do any other way.

For some, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year. Shawna asked a friend how she could pray for her and she immediately teared up. Jesus, Immanuel, Joy of the world, is with us in our sadness too.

Perry and Shawna listener Brian texted them in September saying, “Please pray for me, I have a really bad disease.” And 3 months later Brian was gone. Perry went to pay his respects this past Monday and as he walked back to his car it felt like death was on him like a heavy blanket. The blanket lifted as he thought of some words of hope from Aslan!

Everything seems bigger at Christmastime. The good things seem better. The hardships seem greater. Christmas doesn’t create our problems or improve our lives – it simply amplifies what already is. Christmas was never intended to magnify us. This Christmas let’s magnify the One Christmas is all about.

Before Perry was 25, God had blessed him with some amazing open doors for the Kingdom. And then, that season was over and he found himself cleaning toilets. Super humbling. It wasn’t anything Perry had chosen. But for Jesus he gave up all his glory willingly, for us!

Jesus’ birth was not His beginning. He always has been and always will be. Jesus came to give us eternal life. Only an eternal being could offer an eternal gift.

Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wgnb

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.