Sandy Creek Stirrings

When will the rapture happen? When will it take place? When will Christ come back? It's a question that many have pondered, many have taken a strong stand on, yet many who have not truly studied this thought out. In this episode, I am joined by Pastor Patrick Gimenez and we discuss what the Bible has to say about when the rapture will take place. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: joshua@sandycreekstirrings.com.

We are super excited to present "The Rapture Series" - a series dedicated to showing the truth of the Rapture from Scripture. With so many swirling beliefs, I want to take time to get down to what the Bible actually says about such an important subject. In this episode - our introduction to the end times discussion - we break down the following terms often used in this conversation:

- The End Times

- The Last Days

- The Tribulation

- The Millennial Reign of Christ

- The Antichrist

- The Two Witnesses

- The 144,000

- The Mark

- The Rapture

- The Lie

& MORE!

You don't want to miss this intro to our brand new series!

Forgiveness is not always an easy task. It's difficult. It's hard. When someone has wronged you, the last thing on your mind is forgiveness. Yet, this aspect of our daily lives is one that cannot go unnoticed. The unforgiving spirit is ruining churches in America daily. An unforgiving spirit will keep you from all that you can be for Christ. This message - "Let It Go" - walks you through the practical application of forgiveness - a true necessity for Biblical living.

Everyone goes through pain. Sorrow. Heartache. Betrayal. Times of hurt. In ministry and in life, the ones who you have invested time, friendship, and love into can sometimes pain you deeply. How do you heal after hurt? We talk about that and more in this episode!

It was the Apostle Paul Who warned that we should not "be weary in well doing" - stating the reality that we can become tired, discouraged, or burnout. It's a reality for many pastors and church staff across the world. Yet, in a busy life and ministry, how can we avoid becoming tired, discouraged, burnt-out, or "weary"? In this episode, we keep things extremely practical with various tips and bits of Biblical wisdom that you can take home and use today!

In this episode, I play a message for you that is life changing. So many times, we can become so focused on personal issues and being self-centered that we fail to remember our priority: serving others. This message from the Pastor's School of 2000 has been a great blessing to me as a husband, father, and church staff member. This is a message to stick in your back pocket and listen to on a regular basis. I pray that it will be as much of a blessing to you as it was for me.

   Have you heard?  Have you seen?  Did you happen to see?  Did you happen to hear?  That Baptist church in... The pastor...

We live in a day and age where there are blogs and podcasts devoted to talking about and discussing sexual abuse in churches. It is no wonder that many have heard about some scandal or terrible happening in a church they know of, a pastor they respected, or a staff member that should have known better.  I want to address the subject and concern of sexual abuse and immorality in churches in this episode.   Asking a question of this magnitude is a valid question and deserves a valid answer. 

In this episode, we will discuss:

- 2 things wrong with the title of this episode.

- What a church should expect when accusations come.

- How a pastor, staff, and church should handle accusations.

- Policies that churches should have written into their by-laws.

- The great law our judicial system is built on.

- What to do after the accusation.

- How to keep accusations from happening or being truthful.

- Why transparency is so important in ministry.

- Why accusations may knock you down, but shouldn't knock you out.

- AND SO MUCH MORE!

When is the last time you have stopped and thought about how good God has been? When is the last time you have stopped to count your blessings? In this episode, I take time to talk about some of the things the Lord has been doing in my life. I also discuss the importance of a "new song" in your life!

Calling all young preachers!

At some point in your ministry, you will be called upon to preach or lead a funeral. How do you do it? In a day where some allow the church's standards to be comprised due to the event, how do we have a "good" funeral? In this two part episode (the second part will be released next week), you will get the privilege to learn from veteran missionary and pastor - Pastor Patrick Gimenez - on how to lead, preach, and guide a funeral!

In this two part episode, you will learn:

- How to act in the hospital room of someone who is dying.

- How to help a grieving family.

- What questions to ask family members after their loved one's death.

- Church funerals vs. Funeral homes vs. Graveside.

- What to preach on.

- How you can get to know the deceased even after their death.

- Preaching a funeral for the lost, the saved, or the unknown.

- Personal touches to aid the grieving.

- How to properly use humor in tough situations.

- How to not compromise your church's standards.

- Tips for videos and music.

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Calling all young preachers!

At some point in your ministry, you will be called upon to preach or lead a funeral. How do you do it? In a day where some allow the church's standards to be comprised due to the event, how do we have a "good" funeral? In this two part episode (the second part will be released next week), you will get the privilege to learn from veteran missionary and pastor - Pastor Patrick Gimenez - on how to lead, preach, and guide a funeral!

In this two part episode, you will learn:

- How to act in the hospital room of someone who is dying.

- How to help a grieving family.

- What questions to ask family members after their loved one's death.

- Church funerals vs. Funeral homes vs. Graveside.

- What to preach on.

- How you can get to know the deceased even after their death.

- Preaching a funeral for the lost, the saved, or the unknown.

- Personal touches to aid the grieving.

- How to properly use humor in tough situations.

- How to not compromise your church's standards.

- Tips for videos and music.

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Paul gives us a command in this passage that is often forgotten about in a lot of Christian lives.  It’s not preached on or taught on often because it can be offensive and embarrassing to some.  Yet, the Bible gives no exception clause to this passage.  It applies to everyone.  No matter height, weight, color, or gender – we are given the responsibility of keeping this, often forgotten, command.  Find out what that command is and how to apply it in this episode! Get ready for something extremely practical that you can use TODAY!

We also give an important update in the beginning of the episode concerning the month of June.

Have you ever said something and then thought about why you said what you did? We can be so quick to speak that sometimes we forget to think about what we are saying. If we are not careful, we can use words, phrases, and language that is not pleasing and honoring to God. In this episode, we share common words and phrases that any Bible-believing Christian should think carefully about before saying. Some of these might surprise you!

How do I and a fellow brother-in-Christ fellowship and get along when we have a difference of opinions? How do we remain friends and keep the lines of communication open when we have different personal convictions? No two brothers or sisters in Christ are exactly alike - there will be differences. When dealing with convictions and standards, Christians have some important decisions to make. Join me, as we break down Romans 14 (verse by verse) and discuss the rules of engagement when we have different personal convictions!

Almost 2 years ago, we recorded an episode entitled "Should An Independent Baptist Watch 'The Chosen'?" That episode was extremely different from what we normally record and focus on here at Sandy Creek Stirrings. But! To ice the cake of "extremely different", we want to UPDATE that episode because...some things have changed. Join me in this episode as I discuss how my answer to that question has evolved over the past two years and why some things may still be the same.

In this episode, we take some time to answer some common KJV questions, like:

- Were the KJV translators inspired?

- What about the italicized words?

- Was King James a homosexual?

- Did the translators believe the KJV was perfect?

- What about podcasters and authors who are affecting our churches?

- What can we do about all these questions?

- AND MORE!

I submit to you that only one translation meets the core doctrines concerning the Word of God.  Only one was translated off a line of manuscripts with no faults and no failures – the Traditional Text. Only one translation is perfect with no contradictions and no errors.  That translation is the King James Version. I believe the evidence provided in this study allow us to definitively conclude the errors of the modern translations and any offspring of the Critical Text. The question is: how do we defend the KJV? Find out in this episode!

This episode covers:

- How to defend the KJV.

- How to answer objects to the KJV.

- What about the old words in the KJV?

- Is it still written on a 5th grade reading level?

- Weren't the translators just "common men"?

- "What about all the errors and contradictions in the KJV"?

- Isn't this all just about modern English?

- AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

In this episode, we are going to examine what a house built on a faulty foundation looks like.  What is the offspring of a faulty foundation?  Here is the sad truth – all modern translations are based on the Critical Text. In this episode, we go through and prove why modern versions have serious issues on three levels: The Doctrinal Level, The Transnational Level, and The Mindset Level.

This episode covers:

- Issues with using/consulting the Critical Text.

- Issues found within the NIV, ESV, NASV, ASV, RSV, and many more.

- What we use to determine issues in a translation.

- What the "inner soul" of the Bible version debate is.

- Things to be careful of when listening to Bible Version debates.

- Why the NKJV and MEV are not just updates of the KJV

- AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

  As we read in 1 Peter 1:19, we have a SURE Word God that we can trust in.  How do we know if something is SURE – "stable, firm, trustworthy"?  You check it’s foundation – what lies beneath it. What holds it up? The foundation is of vital importance.  Christ taught this principle with one of the most well known stories of Scripture: the wise man and the foolish man. Join me in this episode as we discuss "The Foundational Issue" of the Bible Version Debate!

This episode covers:

- Where the Textus Receptus (The Traditional Text) came from.

- Where the Critical Text (The Eclectic Text) came from.

- What are "manuscripts"?

- Why there are only 2 translations of the Bible.

- Surface level examination of Codex Vaticanus & Codex Sinaticus.

- How does "manuscript evidence" help us?

- Why the Bible version debate is deeper than "modern English/language".

AND MORE!

For the hundreds of English Bible versions, there seem to be twice as many opinions about which one you should use.  The sad fact is that questions, answers, and conversations revolving around this subject have become so deep that the average Christian gets lost in the first paragraph.  What is the result?  The average Christian is left in the dark when it comes to the FACTS of the Bible version debate.   The goal of this series is to "unwrap" the contents of the Bible version debate, beginning with what the Bible says about itself, the foundation of the Bible versions, answering controversial questions, and much more!  This is accomplished in a simple, easy to listen to format that will compel readers to learn more about the Word of God.  Listen to our Introduction episode today!

I went to prison this past week.  Yes, that's correct: prison.  Some of the men from my church and I went in to prison to help spread the Gospel and be an encouragement to the inmates.  My time "inside the fence" served as a good reminder, once again, of the powerful ability we have been given - the power of choice.  In today's episode, I share some stories from prison and how our choices can lead us to things we do not desire.  

Dr. S.M. Lockridge was a stellar man of God who served the Lord  faithfully for many decades.  He preached nationwide and was well-known  as a Bible-believing, fundamental Baptist.  His preaching was eloquent,  yet easy to listen to.  “Amen” (sometimes known as “That’s My King”),  preached in the 1970’s, is most likely his most famous/most remembered  message.  This message is filled with power to help stir you up for the cause of Christ!

In today's episode, I had the great pleasure of interviewing a church member (and former employee) who left the fraternal organization of freemasonry after 44 years.  Having held several positions of leadership and acting as a lodge leader for many years, he explains in the interview why he left.  After comparing Scripture with the teaching of Freemasonry, he felt that he could no longer continue as a mason and remain a Bible-believing Christian.  His story, provided information, and glimpse into a (relatively) secret organization is absolutely fascinating.  Listen to the end for when he describes how his pastor's approach to church membership really helped to make this decision possible over 2 years later!

Sadly, we live in a day and age of churches filled with people who think they can do it themselves. They made it through last year - they went through the motions of Christianity. Yet, at the end of it all, nothing changed in their hearts and they never grew. They became content to go through the motions, and sadly, they will be content to do the same this year. Join me in this episode as we look at the story of a man's life in Scripture who had the mindset of "I Can Do It Myself". Let's see what lessons we can learn from his life!

This episode is very special to me as I open the episode with a story of something that happened in our personal lives.  Continuing on, I give several things that I believe are a necessity to seeing our children get saved at a young age.  This should be the goal of every Christian parent!

We all want to get more out of our devotions. We all want to grow more from our devotions. You might already know and do some of the things that we mentioned in today’s episode. As we continue along, maybe there are others that we will mention that can help you. I pray and hope that this can be a great refresher for you and will help you to get more during your devotional time.

The question of women in regard to the pastorate has been around for decades...even centuries!  In fact, this was a big, big question back in 1761 when a well-known Methodist began ordaining women as pastors.  This is not a modern issue,  but it has been brought back to the forefront of our culture platform by Rick Warren and the Southern Baptist Convention.  The question is: what is the answer?  What does the Bible say?  Does God have anything to say about this?  Join us today, as we tackle this topic from Scripture and discuss why the question might be better put: "May a woman pastor?"

I cannot count the number of times I have been asked this question: 

"What's the difference between an Independent Baptist and a Southern Baptist?"

Allow me to say: there is a difference.  

In this episode, I cover 7 reasons why I am not a Southern Baptist.  I pray and hope this will adequately answer the question for those searching, as well as give those considering the future something to "chew" on.  

This is - by far - the best message I have ever heard on the subject of Faith Promise Mission's Giving.  This message will challenge you to do more for the cause of Christ in the area of giving to missions.  It's challenging.  It's convicting.  It's convincing.  Every person should hear this message.  I pray that it touches your heart and challenges your life as much as it has mine!

Several have asked how you can manage a busy ministry and family time.  This is a subject that I lived through and came to understand.  There are some things that I had to learn and adjust to during my time as a bi-vocational assistant to the pastor.  I hope these tips and insights will be a blessing and enable you to properly manage both ministry and family!

Our freedoms, spiritual & physical, were bought with the sacrifice of those who decided to do one thing.  They gave their very lives because of one simple word.  It was a decision they made - a conscious, purposeful action that made a difference.  In this episode, I share with you what that one simple word is and encourage the listeners to do the same!

God provided!  It was miraculous!  It was incredible!  Despite all the roadblocks and slammed doors, God still had His hand upon our situation.  Throughout our journey, God taught us so many things about prayer and faith.  In this episode, I want to share those with you, as well as the story of how God provided for our house!

In a nation that promotes and openly approves of homosexuality, what does God have to say?  What does God have to say about the LGBTQIA+ crowd?  What does the Bible say?  What about the general facts and statistics?  Are the arguments for approving and promoting homosexuality even logical?  Find out that and more in this episode!

Is anxiety a physical issue?  How is anxiety diagnosed and treated?  Can anxiety be cured?  What does God have to say about anxiety?  Is this a spiritual problem rather than a physical one?  Find the answers to these questions and more in this episode!

In this episode, we discuss 8 essential "C's" parents need.  These are skills, building blocks, tools, and Bible doctrines that are necessary to successful child-rearing.  If you want to raise your children to love the Lord and serve Him with their lives, then this is the episode for you!

Too often, we discount ordinary people.  Sometimes, people are pushed aside and we think that they will never amount to anything.  But, in this episode, I give a faithful reminder to never discount ordinary people (like you and I) because God can do something great with them if they do one thing.  Find out that one thing in this episode!  Make sure to listen all the way to the end of the episode for an important update regarding the future of Sandy Creek Stirrings. 

After a month long pause, welcome back to Sandy Creek Stirrings!  In this episode, I present a message that I preached to my church upon our teens' return from camp.  This message really struck a cord in our hearts and I pray it will be a blessing to you!

In this episode, I give some reasons behind what made Caleb such a success at following the Lord.  How do we chase down a dream & vision?  Find out in today's episode!  Also, we give an important update concerning the podcast and scheduling.

In this episode, we talk about the benefits and blessings of choosing to be a life-long servant to the Master.  Along with those blessings comes some pain.  How do you deal with the pain?   How do you deal with the scars?  Find out in this episode!

Dr. Harold Sightler was a wonderful man of God who served the Lord faithfully for many, many years.  It is my pleasure to play for you a message that has so greatly touched my heart and life.  I pray and hope that you will find it to provide the same encouragement and conviction that helped me to "keep on keepin' on".

In today's episode, I give several practical thoughts for wisely managing your finances.  I hope that at least one of these thoughts will be a blessing and help to you.  For any questions you may have, you can send those in to: joshua@sandycreekstirrings.com

Sometimes we can come to summer with a "vacation mindset".  We begin to relax and enjoy the down-time and sadly, we can bring that attitude towards spiritual things as well.  This message is a fresh reminder to continue growing during summer for the Lord!

Have you ever been hurt by a friend?  Have you ever had a friend betray you?  Have you ever been wounded by someone you trusted?  David, in Psalm 41, talks about his hurt and how he got past the pain to be able to praise the Lord.  Find out the plan for overcoming hurt and betrayal in today's episode!

My wife and I were blessed this week with another wonderful addition to our family!  In this episode, I am reminded and extend the reminder to parents of the wonderful blessing that children are.  If we aren't careful, we can allow the burdens, difficulties, and work involved in parenting to overshadow the truth - children are a heritage and a reward.

Do you know someone who has fallen?  Someone who has failed? Maybe you have fallen or failed and are trying to get up.  If you are one of those two, then this episode is for you!  Following the principles of Christ from Matthew 14, find out how you can help the fallen!