Watts' Words

THE SECOND CIVIL WAR—THIS TIME WITHOUT CANNONS

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 07:51:10 -0500

The Civil War didn't begin at Fort Sumter in 1861. It began in the decade before—in the 1850s—when a nation that had stopped listening to itself finally broke apart. By the time the first shot was fired, the rupture was already complete.

That war didn't "heal" us overnight. Anyone who says it did hasn't read the history of Reconstruction. But it did place us on a slow, painful, and ultimately successful path toward becoming what no nation in history has ever been: a beacon of liberty, prosperity, and self-governance.

The Founders knew that a republic couldn't survive rapid, passionate swings of the pendulum. That's why they built a system designed for deliberation—not revolution. Amendments require supermajorities. Rights are enumerated, not invented. Power is diffused, not concentrated. This wasn't obstruction; it was wisdom.

Today, we are in another rupture. No cannons. No marching armies. But make no mistake: a war is being waged for the soul of America.

This time, the battle is between those who believe in the America of the Founders—limited government, personal liberty, free markets, and a culture rooted in Judeo-Christian values—and those who want to replace it with something else. Socialism. Globalism. A secular progressivism that treats American history as an indictment rather than an inheritance.

And here is the hard truth that polite society refuses to speak not all immigration is the same.

Immigration, properly understood, is when a person from another country comes here, adopts our language, respects our laws, embraces our culture, and becomes American. That has been the glory of this nation for 250 years. Millions have done exactly that, and we are stronger for it.

But when people come not to join our culture but to replace it—when they bring the very ideologies that destroyed the countries they left and demand that we adopt them—that is not immigration. That is infestation. And when a nation is infested with ideas hostile to its founding principles, it becomes sick.

WHERE THE BATTLE RAGES TODAY

You don't have to look to Washington to find this war. It is being fought in your neighborhood, in your community, and most alarmingly—in your children's classrooms.

The Schools

Parents in many places across this country are waking up to a horrifying reality: their children are being used as laboratory experiments. Social engineering dressed up as "education." Gender ideology presented as science. Sexual content introduced without parental knowledge or consent. History rewritten to shame rather than inspire. Patriotism treated as a pathology. I must confess, that while there are some issues and actions for my local school I disagree with, by and large, they seem to be genuinely interested in parental involvement and input. But my sense is that we are the exception and not the rule.

The school board in Montgomery County, Maryland, added seven LGBTO-themed storybooks to the elementary language arts curriculum in November of 2022. This is one book for each grade from Pre-K through the fifth grade. The board did, initially, allow an ‘opt-out’ for the parents who objected, but in March of 2023, they eliminated the ‘opt-out’ entirely, so that now every child had to attend this highly controversial class. Not surprisingly, the lower court sided with the school board (this is next), but SCOTUS took the case and decided 6-3 in favor of the parents. Why? Because this policy violated the long-standing Constitutional edict known as the First Amendment’s Free Exercise clause.

This is not an isolated incident, many more can be found and articulated, because they are coordinated, funded, and are being pushed by school boards, administrators, and teachers' unions who have decided that they know better than parents what is good for their own children. Were I to embark further on the 'sex-ed' question, the many things that are of concern are 'parental notification of things like gender confusion, contraception, and more' are issues that confuse me. What educator thinks that the parents who brought the kids into the world, pay the bills, and love the kids unconditionally, has no right to know???

Parents are not the enemy of education. Parents are the primary educators of their children and desire the best for and from our children. The school exists to assist—not to supplant, not to indoctrinate, and certainly not to experiment. When a school board tells a parent, "We know what's best for your child," that is not partnership. That is, at best, arrogance, and at worse, tyranny wearing a smile.

The Judiciary

At the same time, we are witnessing an unprecedented overreach by the judicial branch. Federal judges, district courts, and even the Supreme Court have increasingly acted not as interpreters of the law but as makers of it.

The Founders gave us three co-equal branches for a reason. The legislature writes the law. The executive enforces it. The judiciary interprets it—nothing more, nothing less. And from reading the documents of those early days, the founders considered the Judiciary the weakest of the three branches, not the powerhouse that is perceived today.

TRUTH: We have judges who legislate from the bench. They strike down laws not because they are unconstitutional, but because they disagree with the policy. They invent rights that appear nowhere in the Constitution. They block executive actions not because they exceed statutory authority, but because they conflict with the judge's personal political preferences.

This is not jurisprudence. This is judicial activism. And it is a direct threat to the rule of law—because when the law means whatever a judge says it means, the law means nothing at all.

The Elected Officials Who Still Fight

Thankfully, we still have men and women in office who understand this. As I write this, I still morn one of the true statesmen of our time. Lindsey Graham seemed to always see the country first. He was willing to talk with and work with anyone on either side of the aisle who wanted to better this country. No, he wasn't perfect, but as his record would prove, he was a true statesman. In his passing, the torch was handed to others who are fighting daily—against the bureaucracy, against the media, at times against their own colleagues, and against an activist judiciary—to restore constitutional governance.

But they cannot do it alone. They need the people to stand with them. They need parents to show up at school board meetings. They need citizens to demand that their elected representatives actually represent them. They need voters to remember that the judiciary was never meant to be the final word on everything—it was meant to be the least dangerous branch, as Alexander Hamilton wrote.

THE SOLUTION: ACCOUNTABILITY

Our system of government works well when we work our system of government. The Founders gave us the tools. We have simply forgotten how to use them.

We need to call rogue judges to account. Not through violence—never through violence—but through the constitutional mechanisms that exist for our and our country’s protection: impeachment, oversight, and the clear and unmistakable message at the ballot box that the people will not tolerate judicial tyranny.

We need to call school boards to account. Parents must become the most feared constituency in every district—not because they are angry, but because they are present. Because they vote. Because they run for office themselves. Because they will not stand by while their children are experimented upon.

We need to call our elected officials to account. If they will not enforce the laws as written, if they will not defend the Constitution as ratified, if they will not respect the separation of powers—then they should be replaced. Peacefully. Decisively. Repeatedly.

This is not extremism. This is citizenship.

Sadly, or so it seems, we have some elected officials whose main desire is to ‘tear down' what it has taken 250 years to build. We have some who do not believe in this great nation, The United States of America. With all our faults, flaws, and failures as a nation, this is still the greatest place on earth to live. But it’s changing and some of those changes fly in the face of the foundation that has made us great.

On August 28, 1963, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr, stood at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and delivered his “I have a dream” speech. It is worth noting that, after all those years of prejudice, segregation, and discrimination, Dr. King didn’t want to change the system of government, but the application of governing. He believed this was the greatest land in the world and that this structure, when properly applied, would offer opportunity to all who gave the effort. Like a Biblical prophet, Dr. King ended his speech with a seven-fold call to what he envisioned America. I say this again: It is worth noting that none of his calls included nor hinted at a ‘fundamental transformation in the government of this nation’ but rather a ‘transformation in the culture of this land.’

He fought for this because he saw the inequity of the culture, one based on the ‘color of one skin and not the content of their character. He saw this nation was good, not perfect, but good even though it needed a little redirection.

WHAT WE COULD HAVE AGAIN

Imagine, for a moment, an America that returned to its constitutional roots.

Imagine schools where children learned to read, write, and calculate—not to feel guilty about their skin color or their country's past, but to be equipped to build its future.

Imagine courts that actually interpreted the law instead of rewriting it. Where a judge's personal politics were irrelevant because the text of the Constitution was the only guide.

Imagine a government that stayed within its enumerated powers. Where Washington didn't try to solve every problem because the Founders wisely understood that most problems are best solved locally—by families, by churches, by communities, by states.

Imagine a culture where the American Dream was not a punchline but a promise. Where a young person could grow up believing that if they worked hard, told the truth, honored their family, and served their community, they could achieve anything.

That America is not gone. It is not lost, but has simply lost its way. It is waiting—waiting for enough of us to remember who we are, what we built, and why it matters.

My hope and prayer is that the people in the heartland—and in every corner of this country—will give their hearts to supporting that America. Not the America of cable news. Not the America of identity politics. Not the America that apologizes for its own existence.

The America we love. The America that welcomed millions and made them Americans—not hyphenated, not divided, but united. The America that defeated tyranny, landed on the moon, and lifted more people out of poverty than any nation in history.

That America is worth defending. Not necessarily with cannons or rifles, but with votes, with voices, with presence, and with prayer.

Our children are watching. Our grandchildren will inherit what we leave them. Let us leave them not a nation in decline, but a nation renewed—faithful to its founding, confident in its future, and grateful for the extraordinary gift that is the United States of America.

ONE LAST THING that is deeply personal for me. This government was formed in the throes of being spiritually repressed They had largely been forced into their own religious belief system. Even thought, there are modern-day revisionist historians who desire to remove God, the Bible, and the Judeo-Christian belief from the foundation of this nation, history cannot be changed. It can be rewritten, but not changed. The more we move away from our FOUNDATION, the weaker we become. Just like a house that has been blown off or has fallen off its foundation is weak, so is this nation.

With the rise of 'non-belief' has come a decline in our 'culture.' My prayer is that people, individuals, everyone will discover or rediscover the God only found in the Bible, the Holy Spirit that helps lead and guide, and Jesus who saves us. This, alone, could change the direction of our nation.

CLOSING CHALLENGE

So I ask you: What will you do?

Will you read the Constitution—not a summary, not a commentary, but the actual document?

Will you hold your elected officials accountable, regardless of their party?

Will you teach your children to love this country not because it is perfect, but because it is good—and because it is theirs to steward?

If enough of us say yes, the second Civil War—the quiet one, the cultural one, the one fought in courtrooms and classrooms—can be won. Not by changing the Government structure, but by the American people remembering who they are.

And that is a victory worth fighting for.

I Wish We Would Just Stop

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:26:28 -0500

It happens almost every day now.

I’ll be scrolling through my feed, and there it is again—another prominent Christian leader being publicly eviscerated. R.C. Sproul. Rick Warren. Billy Graham. Even John MacArthur and John Piper. Men who have spent their lives preaching the Gospel, pastoring flocks, and defending the faith are being dismissed with a casual click of the keyboard as heretics, false prophets, deceivers, and modern-day Pharisees.

Just because someone doesn’t agree with you on all points of theology does not make them a false prophet or heretic.

The Casual Cruelty of the Screen

Back in the 1960s through the 1980s, if someone wanted to attack another person’s character, they typically had to do it face-to-face—or hide behind a literal, physical mask to hide their face. People often hid behind their mask of anonymity to avoid being known.

Today, we’ve traded the physical mask for an electronic screen. And strangely, we’ve become more willing to reveal our true selves—our harshness, our arrogance, our certainty—in black and white for the entire world to see.

What Makes Someone a False Teacher?

Let’s be honest about what we’re doing. We’re taking men who love Jesus, who have devoted their lives to studying Scripture, who have led millions to Christ—and we’re calling them heretics because they see a particular passage differently than we do.

Chances are that they interpret Scripture just a little differently than you or I do. And most of these differences have little to no implication for compromising the Gospel.

There is a massive difference between a theological disagreement and actual heresy. One of the most helpful reminders in this conversation is simply this: "Discernment is different from a critical spirit". Discernment seeks truth; a critical spirit seeks to tear down.

We’ve become obsessed with hunting for false teachers online. But when we call someone a heretic who isn’t one, who exactly is in the wrong?

What Scripture Actually Says

Jesus showed remarkable grace to people who were honestly trying to walk by faith. Think of the woman caught in adultery—the religious leaders wanted to stone her, but Jesus extended grace (John 8:1-11). He didn't condemn those who were sincerely seeking but offer a way for them to see themselves. By the way, he allowed them to make the decision.

Paul—who had plenty of theological disagreements—wrote something profound to the Philippians. Even when people were preaching Christ with impure motives and selfish ambition, Paul said:

"But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice." (Philippians 1:18)

In essence: whether they're getting it all right or not, as long as Jesus is preached, rejoice.

Paul also wrote to the Romans:

"Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters... Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall." (Romans 14:1-4)

And what about our speech?

"Do not let unwholesome words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)

The Arrogance of Certainty

I’m sorry to say this, but most of these harsh words tend to come from people who appear arrogant at best, or worse; people who may not be correct but who are never in doubt.

It seems there’s a kind of modern Pharisaism that has crept into the church. It says: "I have the truth, and everyone who differs from me is deceived."

Scripture warns that pride comes before a fall. Jesus warned about the “log” or ‘beam’ in our own eye before we point out the speck in our brother's (Matthew 7:1-5). And when we see someone caught in a fault, we’re not called to condemn but to restore them gently (Galatians 6:1-2). Truth without love is not truth at all—it's just noise.

A Call for Gentleness

I’m calling for something different. A softer, gentler way of dealing with our differences.

Yes, I believe we can disagree on doctrine without using our words as deadly weapons. When we attack other believers with the venomous labels of "heretic" and "false prophet," we do more than wound them—we become a bad witness to the world.

The world is watching. And what do they see? Christians devouring Christians.

Surely, we preach the Bible and call out ‘sin’, but even them, we don’t back up from the teaching of scripture, but it seems ungodly to revel in calling a brother or sister ungodly names when, most of the time, we have only read what someone ‘said they said.’ I suggest that a great tool (which I am still learning to use) is to ask, “Does what I’m about to write build up or tear down the Kingdom of God?” Or “Does what I’m about to say contain truth that can be misunderstood and misused?” Or “Does what I am about pen have to or need to be said?”

Let’s recognize that brothers and sisters in Christ can look at the same Scripture and come to different understandings. Let's extend the same grace Jesus gave to those who were honestly trying to walk and live by faith.

So I ask: before you type that comment or post that video calling someone a heretic, take a breath. Pray. Consider whether this person is truly denying the essentials of the Gospel or simply seeing things a little differently than you.

Because chances are, they love Jesus too.

And maybe—just maybe—we can learn to disagree without destroying each other or the faith family for which Jesus died.

"God Bless America": Do We Actually Mean It?

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:24:51 -0500

You hear it from senators and school board members, from country singers and late-night hosts trying to seem relatable, from your neighbor's bumper sticker and your grandmother's needlepoint pillow. "God bless America" may be the one phrase left in this country that crosses every line we've drawn — political, religious, economic, regional. Progressives say it. Conservatives say it. Atheists at ballgames say it without blinking. It has become less a prayer than a punctuation mark, the verbal equivalent of standing for the anthem: something you do because it's what closes things out.

Which raises an honest question, and it's not a rhetorical one. If God actually did what that phrase asks — if He actually turned and blessed this nation — what would we be signing up for? And once we know the answer, do the people saying those three words still want it?

A Phrase Everyone Uses, and Nobody Quite Owns

The phrase has a longer and stranger history than most people who use it realize. It shows up in the *New York Times* as far back as 1885, closing a farewell speech by a touring British actor, and it turns up again in the following decades from foreign ambassadors thanking America and from evangelist William Booth shouting it at a Pennsylvania rally. Irving Berlin's 1938 song made it iconic. But as a fixture at the end of a presidential address — the ritual we now take for granted — is shockingly recent. From Franklin Roosevelt's inauguration through Jimmy Carter's presidency, across 229 major addresses, the phrase was spoken exactly once, by Richard Nixon, in the middle of Watergate. It wasn't until Ronald Reagan revived it in 1980 — visibly nervous, by his own account — that it became standard. From Reagan on, presidents closed the overwhelming majority of their major speeches this way.

That's worth sitting with and giving some ‘brain-power’. The habit of ending public speech with an appeal to God is not an old American tradition handed down from the Founders. It's a fairly modern convention, and one pair of researchers studying it concluded something pointed: used this often, by leaders of every persuasion regardless of what they actually believe, the phrase risks becoming political shorthand — a way to reassure an audience the speaker is a "real, God-fearing American" — rather than an actual request addressed to God. It functions the way a national catchphrase functions. It gets said. It rarely gets meant.

What the Blessing Actually Requires

Here's where it gets uncomfortable. If you go looking in Scripture for what it looks like when God genuinely blesses a nation — heals it, restores it, turns its fortunes — you don't find a formula of vague goodwill. You find 2 Chronicles 7:14, God's answer to Solomon after the dedication of the temple: if His people, called by His name, will humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways, then He will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Every commentator who takes the verse seriously notices the same thing — the healing is conditional, and the condition isn't sung at a ballgame or printed on a coin. It's humility. It's repentance. It's people who claim His name taking the action of actually turning from what they're doing wrong.

That is not a small ask. National healing, in the biblical pattern, doesn't arrive as a general mood of niceness or a return to vague "values." It arrives after people who call themselves God's people stop tolerating what they've been tolerating — in their homes, their entertainment, their business practices, their politics, their private lives — and actually turn toward God, His standards, His will, and His ways. It is disruptive. It costs something. It is the opposite of comfort, and it is aimed first at the church, not at the culture outside it.

So, picture it happening. Picture America, actually blessed, in the 2 Chronicles sense — not economically flush, not militarily dominant, but *morally realigned* toward God. What changes? Entertainment built on cruelty and appetite loses its audience. Industries that profit from addiction, exploitation, and the commodifying of sex lose their customers. Marriages that are being quietly abandoned get fought for instead. The unborn get protected as a matter of national conscience, not partisan combat. Public discourse stops rewarding contempt. Private life stops being lived for consumption and starts being lived for something outside the self. That is what "God bless America" would actually cost the people saying it, if God took the phrase seriously and answered it.

The Gap Between the Words and the Want

Now compare that to where the country actually is. Weekly religious attendance has fallen from roughly 42% to about 30% over the past two decades, and a majority of Americans now say they seldom or never attend services at all. The share saying religion is "very important" to them has slid well under half, down from over 70% a generation or two ago. These aren't fringe numbers — they describe the same population that, on cue, closes speeches, sings the anthem verse, and posts the bumper sticker.

That gap is the real question this article is trying to name. It isn't really a question about the phrase. It's a question about us. Do we want *America blessed* — comfortable, prosperous, favored, undisturbed — or do we want “America healed?” Let’s face it, according to the verse we love to quote this requires humility we haven't shown, prayer we aren't praying, and a turning from wickedness we've mostly decided isn't our department? Those are not the same request. One is a wish. The other is a repentance.

It's entirely possible to say "God bless America" a thousand times and mean, underneath it, "please don't let anything bad happen to us" — which is a request for protection, not transformation. That's a natural thing to want. It is not what 2 Chronicles 7:14 offers. The verse doesn't promise God will shield a comfortable status quo. It promises He will heal a land that has actually turned.

An Honest Answer

So — do the people who say it mean it? As they utter the words, likely they do, as long as “God’s blessings” fall within their concept. But on a Biblical level, most probably not, at least in the sense the verse requires. Most of the time it's civic reflex, a closing formality inherited from Reagan-era political speechwriter more than from the local church. That's not necessarily cynicism; a lot of it is sincere goodwill wearing borrowed religious language, because English doesn't offer many other phrases for "I hope things go well for us."

But some who say it do mean something closer to the real thing, and that's worth naming too — because the verse was never written as a national slogan in the first place. It was written to "my people, who are called by my name." It was never a blank check offered to a whole culture regardless of what that culture does with its freedom. It was, and is, an invitation to the church first — to the people who actually claim His name — to get low, get honest, and turn.

If that happened — really happened — America would look different in a hundred uncomfortable ways before it looked blessed in any way we'd recognize on a bumper sticker. The question worth asking, the next time you hear those three words close out a speech, isn't whether the speaker believes in God. It's whether you — whoever is standing there nodding along — actually want the change this blessing would bring and what the blessing would cost.

When the Court Weakens the President, It Weakens the Presidency

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:40:16 -0500

There is a troubling pattern developing in American government, and it ought to concern every citizen who still believes in constitutional order, national strength, and common sense.

The Supreme Court may not admit it, and some in the political class will certainly deny it, but recent rulings give the appearance that President Donald Trump is not simply being judged by the law, but judged through the lens of personal and political hostility. Again and again, when this President attempts to clean up what many Americans believe is a bloated, politicized, and unaccountable federal system, he finds himself restrained by courts that seem more interested in limiting Trump than in preserving the proper strength of the presidency.

That is a dangerous game.

The issue is not whether President Trump is flawless. He is not. No honest supporter has to pretend that he is. He speaks bluntly. He fights hard. He offends easily. He has a personality that often creates storms even when his policies deserve serious attention. But his greatest political offense may be this: he loves this country deeply, and he refuses to quietly manage its decline.

That is what has made him such a threat to the entrenched powers in Washington.

President Trump was elected to confront a system that many Americans believe has grown far beyond its constitutional boundaries. He was elected to secure the border, restore law and order, reduce bureaucratic arrogance, protect American workers, confront foreign threats, and resist the steady march toward socialism. Yet when he attempts to use the authority of the presidency to carry out that mandate, the courts too often appear ready to step in and tie his hands.

The tragedy is that the justices may think they are weakening Donald Trump personally, when in reality they are weakening the presidency itself.

The presidency is not strong only when the right person occupies the office. It is not legitimate only when Washington elites approve of the man sitting behind the Resolute Desk. The powers of the presidency exist because the Constitution created an executive branch with real authority. If those powers are diminished because the current President is disliked, then every future President inherits a weakened office.

That should alarm Republicans, Democrats, independents, and every citizen who still believes the nation needs decisive leadership.

America faces enemies both foreign and domestic. Abroad, our adversaries are watching. They study our divisions. They measure our resolve. They notice when our leaders are paralyzed by internal legal warfare. At home, radical voices are working to reshape this country into something our founders would not recognize. The socialist wing of American politics, including voices like the so-called “Squad” and their ideological allies, does not merely want policy adjustments. They want a different America altogether — less free, less accountable, less rooted in faith, family, personal responsibility, and constitutional liberty.

And every time the Court hands down a ruling that restrains a President who is trying to reverse that drift, it hands a victory to those who believe America itself needs to be fundamentally transformed. This is not merely a legal problem. It is a civic problem. It is a moral problem. It is a national problem.

Our country is disintegrating socially, morally, and ethically. Families are under pressure. Schools are confused. Crime is excused. Faith is mocked. Patriotism is treated as extremism. Capitalism is blamed for problems created by government overreach. Personal responsibility is replaced by grievance. The American dream is being traded for government dependency, cultural resentment, and ideological control.

In such a moment, America does not need a weakened executive. America needs a President who has the constitutional authority to act.

That does not mean the President should be above the law. No President should be. It does not mean every decision from the Oval Office should be rubber-stamped. Courts have a role. Congress has a role. The Constitution gives us checks and balances for a reason.

But checks and balances are not the same thing as obstruction. Judicial review is not the same thing as judicial sabotage. And constitutional restraint should never become political resistance dressed in black robes.

The danger before us is simple: if the Court allows dislike of one man to shape its judgment, then the Court is no longer merely interpreting law. It is influencing the direction of the country by weakening the office the people elected to lead.

President Trump’s enemies often say he is a danger to democracy. But what about unelected judges who repeatedly interfere with the agenda voters chose? What about bureaucrats who cannot be removed? What about agencies that act as though they are a fourth branch of government? What about a political establishment that trusts the people only when the people vote the “right” way?

The deeper question is not whether Donald Trump is controversial. Of course he is. The far deeper question is whether the American people still have the right to elect a President who can actually govern.

If a President cannot remove officials who resist his agenda, then elections lose meaning. If a President cannot enforce the laws with strength, then sovereignty loses meaning. If a President cannot challenge the bureaucracy, then accountability loses meaning. If a President cannot act to repair a broken system of election, they how can we trust the process. If a President cannot act decisively in defense of the nation, then the office itself becomes little more than ceremonial. That is not what the founders intended.

The Supreme Court must remember that it does not sit above the nation as a council of philosopher-kings. It is one branch of government and was considered by the Founder to be the ‘weakest’ branch. Its duty is to uphold the Constitution, not to protect Washington’s permanent class from a President they dislike. It would seem that the other two branches of government are more intent on controlling the Executive Branch than they are in doing their own job (I.E. Immigration Reform, Tax, Reform, Criminal Justice reform, etc)

Donald Trump will one day leave office. Every President does. But the presidency will remain. The question is: what kind of presidency will remain after years of judicial resistance, bureaucratic defiance, and political warfare?

If the Court weakens the presidency to weaken Trump, it will have done lasting damage not merely to one administration, but to the constitutional structure of the United States.

And in the end, those who cheer such rulings today may one day regret the weakened office they helped create. America does not need a President above the law. But America also does not need a Supreme Court that allows political disdain to cloud civic and legal judgment. At this hour in our nation’s history, we need courage, clarity, constitutional fidelity, and a renewed love for the country we have been blessed to inherit. President Trump has many flaws, but love for America is not one of them. If that love gets him into trouble, then perhaps the real trouble is not with him alone.

Perhaps the real trouble is with a ruling class that has forgotten what America is worth fighting for.

Without Firing a Shot

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 06:05:38 -0500

It has long been said that Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev once warned the West, in effect, "We'll take you without firing a shot." I was a boy when that line was circulating, but I still remember the grown-ups around me reacting to it — not with fear exactly, but with a kind of indignant disbelief. The notion that anyone could take America without an army, without a bomb, without so much as a bullet, struck them as absurd. We were the strongest nation on earth. We had just come through a world war. We were not going to allow such a thing to happen.

I have thought about that line many times since. Not because I believe Khrushchev was a prophet in any biblical sense, but because the question he raised — can a great nation be undone from the inside? — turns out to be one of the most important questions any people can ask of itself.

How We Got Strong

For most of my life, the United States led the world on nearly every front, and I don't think that was an accident. One of the monumental reasons we were able to lead is that we tended to look for people in whom creativity was married to a love for the nation, and we did our best to empower them. We let them research. We let them discover. We let them start businesses, take risks, and contribute — to the economy, yes, but also to the social and even moral culture of the country.

We had watched other nations try socialism, try communism, try a thoroughgoing secularism that pushed God out of public life. We had watched many of those experiments rise and then fall. And having watched, we stood firm. We loved our country. We held to our democratic instincts. We believed that ordered liberty — freedom inside a framework of shared moral conviction — was the soil in which human flourishing actually grows.

That last part matters. Freedom by itself is not a foundation. Freedom is a gift that has to rest on something. When it rests on virtue, on conviction, on a people who govern themselves from the inside, it produces a nation worth admiring. When it rests on nothing, it becomes something else entirely.

The Turn

About ten years after Khrushchev made his remark, things began to change in America, and they changed markedly. I say this not as an outside observer but as someone who was part of it. I was there. My generation began to tear down traditions — and I'll be honest, some of those traditions deserved to come down. But here is the trouble: we tore them down and put nothing in their place. We didn't replace a flawed tradition with a better one. We replaced it with a vacuum, because what we wanted, what we demanded, was to be "free spirits."

We mistook the absence of restraint for the presence of freedom. They are not the same thing. A river without banks is not a freer river; it is a swamp.

Here is something I have come to believe, and I'll state it plainly: a country, a culture, a community, a church — any belief system at all — will never drift on its own toward the conservative vision. The drift is always leftward, always toward what loosens and compromises the convictions that once held the thing firm. This is not a partisan observation so much as an observation about human nature. Left to itself, water runs downhill. Left to itself, a garden runs to weeds. Left to itself, a people will tend to trade hard-won conviction for easy comfort. Holding a culture firm requires constant, deliberate, uphill effort. Letting it slide requires nothing at all but neglect.

That is why every generation has to win the argument again, and candidly, it would seem that we lost the argument. Nothing good is ever inherited automatically. It is either tended or it is lost.

A Reality My Parents Wouldn't Recognize

My parents — just one or two generations back — would scarcely recognize the country we live in now. They would be appalled that New York City elected a man who professed himself a Socialist; I heard him profess it. That simply would not have happened in the America of their lifetime. And it is no longer an isolated thing — others who hold the same convictions are now being seated in our houses of government. I think too of the cultural confusion that has grown so deep that we now struggle, in our highest institutions, to agree on definitions that every previous generation took as obvious. When a court can seat a justice on SCOTUS who will not say plainly what a woman is, a society has lost more than a debate. It has lost a shared grip on reality itself — and for me that raises hard questions about what such a person has already decided before a single case is ever argued.

I don't say these things to score points against anyone. I say them because they are evidence of drift — the slow, quiet, downhill drift I described — and because drift, unlike invasion, doesn't announce itself. No shot is fired. There is no smoke, no siege, no border crossed. There is only the steady erosion of conviction, one compromise at a time, until one morning a people wakes up in a country their grandparents would not recognize and cannot quite explain how they got there.

Seen that way, the old Secretary's remark starts to feel less like Cold War bluster and more like an uncomfortable description of how nations actually fall.

What Was Actually Said

I should be fair to history here, because honesty is part of conviction too. There is real conjecture about what Khrushchev actually said. The interpreters in the room have suggested other renderings of his words: "We will bury you," or "We will outlast you," or even "We will be there at your burial." The famous "without firing a shot" version is most likely a later elaboration, an American paraphrase that grew in the retelling.

But notice something. Even the verified version carries the same chill. We will outlast you. Not defeat you in battle — outlast you. Wait you out. Let you exhaust yourselves, divide yourselves, forget yourselves, until there is nothing left to conquer. Whether or not Khrushchev ever said the famous line, the idea behind it describes our present moment with painful accuracy.

Look at the temper of our times: the hostility between neighbors, the polarization of our politics, the open desire among many to drag the whole enterprise toward an extreme it has never known. You don't need a Soviet premier to take a nation like that. A nation like that is already doing the work itself.

If My People

I pray we are not as far gone as the trend lines suggest. And I want to be clear about where I believe the answer is found, because it is not finally in an election, a policy, or a political movement, as much as those things matter.

For me, the answer is found in the Word of God and God’s only Son – Jesus. As a point of fact, it begins with three words: "If My people."

"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Read that promise carefully and you'll notice God did not lay the burden of national recovery on the politicians, the pundits, or the cultural elite. He laid it on His people. The healing of a land begins not in the capitol but in the sanctuary, not in a campaign but in a heart that humbles itself. The conditions are four — humble, pray, seek, turn — and every one of them is something a believer can begin doing today, before breakfast, without anyone's permission.

To make this more personal, I point to the last promise in that verse which says, “Heal their land.” This seems to be the culmination of God’s words to Solomon, but it has a deeper and more expansive means. Start at the end of the verse and work backward.

If I want this land healed, sin must be forgiveness. For sin to be forgiven, we must hear from heaven. Here is the tricky or difficult part. To be heard in heaven requires “REPENTANCE” which is outlines in the first part of the verse and give four specific actions: humble yourself, pray, seek MY face, and turn from your wicked ways. Remember, these are God’s words, not mine but they are a roadmap to the healing of our land.

How stark a reality we face. And yet how hopeful, because the remedy is placed within reach. Burying our heads in the sand will not save us. Wringing our hands will not recover us. Despair is just another form of surrender — taking us, you might say, without firing a shot.

The drift is real, and it is always downhill. But the people of God are not called to drift. We are called to climb — to humble ourselves, to pray, to seek His face, and to turn. That is not a retreat from the culture. It is the one offensive that has ever actually healed a land.

I pray we take it up while there is still daylight.

A Word Through the SBC Storm: Fighting the Right Battle

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Sat, 23 May 2026 08:27:08 -0500

Are you 'weary' yet? I am. As a life-long Southern Baptist, I am weary - (I know, "Let us not grow weary In well-doing, we shall reap if we faint not.") Today, there is a wide difference of opinion as to what "Well-Doing" might be.

The Southern Baptist Convention finds itself in a difficult and painful season. Questions about accountability, trustee oversight, entity transparency, abuse reform, theological boundaries, cultural engagement, and cooperative mission have all converged into what feels like a denominational storm.

Many Southern Baptists (like me) are weary. Others are angry, suspicious, and some are even afraid.

If we are honest, many have begun to fight one another with a level of intensity that has distracted us from the very reason Southern Baptists exist in the first place. That should be a deep concern for us.

Scripture reminds us: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil…” (Ephesians 6:12)

Southern Baptists are not called to fight one another as enemies. We are called to fight lostness, evil, deception, and spiritual darkness with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

That does not mean we ignore real problems. It does not mean we sweep concerns under the rug. It does not mean we dismiss questions of accountability, transparency, or integrity in the name of “keeping peace.” Biblical peace is never built on denial. Biblical peace is built on truth, repentance, righteousness, and reconciliation.

We Must Face the Issues Honestly and there are real concerns in the SBC.

Questions about trustee effectiveness are legitimate. Concerns about financial transparency in entities deserve honest answers. Abuse prevention and survivor care cannot be treated as secondary matters. Theological convictions must be handled seriously. Cultural engagement must be guided by biblical wisdom rather than political tribalism.

And yes, many Southern Baptists are asking whether executive leadership across various entities is giving trustees full and accurate information to exercise their God-given stewardship responsibilities.

These are not trivial concerns, ignoring them will not solve them, nor will suppressing heal them. Pretending everything is fine when trust is broken only deepens the fracture. The answer is not silence. But neither is the answer civil war.

We Must Refuse the Spirit of Internal Warfare

In times like this, there is a dangerous temptation to begin seeing fellow Southern Baptists not as brothers and sisters with whom we disagree, but as enemies to be defeated. That spirit is destructive and I suggest (actually 'submit') it produces factions instead of fellowship, suspicion instead of charity, power struggles instead of servant leadership, and public humiliation instead of biblical restoration. The New Testament repeatedly warns against this kind of internal cannibalization.

Paul warned the Galatians: “If you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.” (Galatians 5:15)

That is not merely an ancient warning—it feels painfully relevant today. The SBC cannot "Gospel the nations while gobbling up itself."

The Way Forward Requires Both Truth and Peace

Every pastor, leader, and perhaps Christ follower knows that "Peace (real peace) is not simply the absence of conflict" rather, "Peace is conflict handled in a Christlike way." Southern Baptists do not need less truth. We need truth delivered with humility. We do not need less accountability. We need accountability exercised with integrity rather than vengeance. We do not need less conviction. We need conviction governed by Christian charity.

Scripture says: “Speak the truth in love…” (Ephesians 4:15)

That means:

If there are transparency issues, address them honestly.
If trustees are not receiving full information, fix the process.
If abuse reforms are incomplete, strengthen them.
If leadership has erred, hold leadership accountable.
If accusations are false or exaggerated, correct them truthfully.

But do it in a way that seeks righteousness—not revenge.

Remember Why We Exist

The SBC was never created merely to manage controversy, It exists to cooperate for the sake of the Great Commission.

To send missionaries, to plant churches, to train pastors, to preach Christ, to reach the lost, to make disciples, and to bring honor to the name of our High and Holy God.

Every internal fight that overshadows that mission weakens the witness of the churches that support it. However, this does not mean mission should be used as an excuse to avoid reform. But it does mean reform must serve mission—not destroy it.

Southern Baptists cannot afford to spend all their emotional, spiritual, and financial capital fighting each other while a lost world waits to hear the Gospel.

I am a 'nobody' in this massive collection churches and leaders called the "Southern Baptist Convention", but I still offer this Word to Leaders, Trustees, and Messengers:

To leaders: lead transparently.

To trustees: oversee courageously.

To messengers: engage responsibly.

To pastors: speak carefully.

To critics: pursue truth without becoming destructive.

To all Southern Baptists: remember that brothers and sisters in Christ are not the enemy.

We need less rhetoric designed to inflame, less suspicion that assumes the worst, less public posturing, less tribal score-settling, and more prayer.

We need more repentance, more honest conversation, more biblical courage, more gospel engagement, and more Gospel-centered unity.

We need the wisdom and courage to fight the Right Battle

The enemy is not the Southern Baptist sitting across the aisle in Orlando. The enemy is lostness. The enemy is deception. The enemy is evil. The enemy is anything that diminishes the glory of Christ and hinders the advance of His Gospel.

This moment for the SBC requires courage—but not merely the courage to confront problems. It requires the courage to confront problems without losing our Christian spirit in the process, conviction without cruelty, Truth without tribalism, Accountability without hatred and Peace without compromise.

And faith that Jesus Christ is still Lord of His church.

Yes, Southern Baptists must deal with the issues and the issues are many. But as we do, let us remember: We are not called to destroy one another. We are called to strengthen the church, protect the vulnerable, uphold truth, and carry the Gospel to the nations.

That is the battle worth fighting.

Orlando - What the SBC Might Expect

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Fri, 22 May 2026 06:06:21 -0500

As Southern Baptists gather in Orlando in just a few weeks, the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention will likely be about far more than reports, resolutions, elections, and procedural business. On paper, the SBC annual meeting is a gathering of messengers for worship, encouragement, and denominational business. In reality, Orlando may serve as something much deeper—a moment of reflection on the direction, trust, and future integrity of the Convention itself.

Allow me a personal note: I love Southern Baptists for all kind of reasons. This has been my spiritual home for close to 70 years. The SBC has endured through the best and worst of times because they stayed true to Jesus, His word, and respected each other. This year may be a challenge for many reasons. As I shared with my small country congregation, "When you get to be a cooperative organization of this magnitude, issues will arise and have to be dealt with. The questions before Southern Baptists are not simply administrative. They touch on doctrinal fidelity, financial stewardship, institutional transparency, trustee accountability, cultural engagement, and whether the SBC will remain firmly rooted in its historic mission while navigating the challenges of a changing era. Consider these topics.

The Presidency Still Matters

Southern Baptists sometimes say the SBC president has limited authority, and in one sense that is true. The president cannot dictate denominational policy or govern entities directly. Yet the role carries influence in ways that matter over time. The president appoints the Committee on Committees, which influences the Committee on Nominations, which in turn helps shape trustee boards across SBC entities.

Those appointments matter because leadership affects accountability, institutional oversight, and the long-term direction of Convention entities. The annual meeting remains one of the few places where ordinary church messengers can exercise influence over institutions that otherwise may seem distant from the local church.

At issue is a larger Baptist principle: the Convention belongs to the churches—not to Nashville, not to committees, not to agency heads, but to the cooperating churches who send messengers and provide the funding that makes the work possible.

Institutional Transparency and the NAMB Question

One of the issues heading into Orlando is the growing conversation around institutional transparency and financial stewardship—particularly regarding the North American Mission Board (NAMB).

NAMB receives a substantial share of Southern Baptist mission dollars through Cooperative Program allocations, along with millions more through designated Annie Armstrong Easter Offering gifts. Southern Baptists overwhelmingly support missions, evangelism, and church planting, but many are asking a basic stewardship question: are churches receiving clear and measurable information about what those dollars are accomplishing?

Concerns have been raised that while NAMB regularly shares ministry stories, reports, and broad descriptions of success, some Southern Baptists would like to see more detailed evaluative statistics that allow churches to better assess effectiveness. Questions have surfaced regarding church planting outcomes, missionary deployment, long-term sustainability, baptisms connected to funded efforts, and measurable return on Cooperative Program investment.

This is not fundamentally a debate about support for missions. Rather, it is a stewardship conversation.

People who give sacrificially to kingdom work naturally want confidence that their gifts are being used effectively and transparently.

Southern Baptists are a voluntary cooperative body. Churches choose to give because they believe in the mission and trust the stewardship of the entities receiving those funds. That trust is strengthened by transparency. It is and should be of grave concern when an entity, any entity of the Southern Baptist Convention repeatedly refuses to release statistics of their work to the very people who fund their work.

Orlando may once again raise the question: How can Convention entities continue to provide the kind of reporting and accountability that builds confidence among the churches they serve?

Trustee Accountability: Are Trustees Being Given the Full Picture?

Closely connected to this conversation is the broader issue of trustee accountability. It should be said clearly that many good, godly, capable, and deeply committed Southern Baptists serve faithfully as trustees across SBC entities. These men and women often give sacrificially of their time because they genuinely love the Convention and desire to protect its mission. For many if not most, the concern is not primarily with the trustees themselves.

The question increasingly being asked is this:

Are trustees being given the full information by executive staff necessary to exercise genuine oversight?

That question is not necessarily an accusation, but it does reflect a broader principle of governance: trustee boards can only provide effective accountability if they have access to complete, candid, and timely information. A trustee board can only govern what it fully understands. A trustee can only ask meaningful questions if he or she has been given the data, context, and operational realities necessary to evaluate decisions properly.

This is where much of the conversation lies—not necessarily in trustee intent, but in whether the flow of information from executive leadership to trustees is sufficient for oversight to be meaningful rather than merely procedural. Southern Baptists have historically relied on trustee governance as a safeguard against concentrated institutional power. Trustees are not ceremonial figures; they are meant to represent the churches in overseeing the entities. That system works best when trustee boards operate with full access to the information needed to fulfill their responsibilities.

Orlando may bring renewed conversations not simply about who serves as trustees, but about how trustee boards can function with the knowledge and transparency necessary to provide real accountability. For me, there exists a need for Southern Baptist to have a clear understanding about the 'trust' with which the 'Convention' places in the 'trustees' themselves. It is a dangerous and contradictory concept to attempt to manage the either an entity or trustees from the floor of the convention. The ethical, legal, and moral, implications for entity management are beyond the knowledge of the messengers (me included). This is the very reason for trustees. The convention must be sure that they are receiving the unredacted information so as to represent the interests of Southern Baptist.

The ERLC and Institutional Trust

Though previous efforts to abolish or dramatically restructure the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission have failed, questions surrounding the ERLC have not entirely disappeared. Some Southern Baptists continue to debate whether the ERLC consistently reflects the convictions of grassroots churches and whether its public engagement best represents the Convention as a whole.

The underlying issue is larger than one entity.

It is a question of trust:

Do SBC entities reflect the convictions of the churches?
Are leaders accountable to the churches?
Is there transparency in how decisions are made?
Are institutions serving the churches, or becoming insulated from them?

My personal prayer is that the new leader be given the support and flexibility to redirect this entity to honor the will of the rank and file

Baptist (not the other way around) and our Lord in their 'much-needed' mission. To think that Southern Baptist do not need a voice at the table of civic leadership is reckless at best and madness at worst. We need the ERLC to be our voice, not to tell us what our voice should be.

These are longstanding Baptist concerns and remain part of the broader denominational conversation.

Abuse Reform and Baptist Polity

No Southern Baptist should dismiss the issue of abuse reform. The Convention’s efforts in this area have been painful and sobering. Churches rightly expect protection for the vulnerable and accountability where wrongdoing occurs.

At the same time, Southern Baptists continue to wrestle with this huge question:

How can abuse reform be pursued while remaining consistent with Baptist polity and local church autonomy without abusing the church and church members in other ways? Many pastors and church leaders remain interested in understanding what reforms have been implemented, how they are funded, what measurable progress has been made, and how those efforts align with Baptist convictions about church governance. The sad truth is this: This issue has so divided us along philosophical lines that to disagree at any point is seen as untenable.

To be clear, every Christ follower should be adamantly opposed to any abuse at any time and we should stand together against it. Plus, we should be a source of healing and hope for those who have been abused (in any way - sexually, emotionally, physically, etc),

Both concerns are important:

Abuse must be confronted decisively.
Baptist church autonomy must be preserved.

Orlando will likely continue that conversation.

Resolutions and Moral Clarity

Some dismiss SBC resolutions as symbolic exercises, but many Southern Baptists see them as opportunities to speak clearly to the churches and to the culture.

Issues such as:

sanctity of life
religious liberty
gender and sexuality
moral clarity in public life
biblical faithfulness in cultural engagement

will likely continue to be part of the Orlando conversation.

The larger question is whether Southern Baptists will speak with biblical clarity and conviction on issues facing both the church and the broader culture.

Historically, the SBC has often viewed resolutions as one way to articulate its collective convictions, even though they are non-binding.

The Larger Question: Trust and the Future of the Convention

Perhaps the real Orlando issue lies beneath all the motions, elections, and reports.

It is the question Southern Baptists continue to ask:

Who is shaping the Convention?

Is it still the local churches through their messengers?

Or has the SBC increasingly become influenced by boards, executive staffs, institutional structures, and denominational systems that ordinary church messengers struggle to influence?

This is not a new Baptist question.

Baptists have historically believed that institutions exist to serve the churches—not the other way around.

That is why conversations about NAMB, trustee information, entity transparency, Cooperative Program stewardship, and institutional accountability are not isolated controversies.

They all point to a deeper concern:

How can Southern Baptists maintain trust, openness, accountability, and confidence in the cooperative system that has defined the Convention for generations?

Final Assessment

Southern Baptists heading to Orlando should not go merely to observe.

They should go praying, informed, and engaged.

The Convention is healthiest when it remains:

biblically faithful
doctrinally clear
missionally focused
financially transparent
trustee-accountable
structurally answerable to the churches

The challenges facing the SBC are not simply theological or administrative. They also involve trust, transparency, governance, and the relationship between the churches and the institutions they support.

Southern Baptists gathering in Orlando will undoubtedly hear reports, elect officers, adopt resolutions, and celebrate kingdom work.

But beneath all of it may be one lingering question:

Will the Southern Baptist Convention continue to operate in a way that strengthens trust, conviction, and transparency among its churches?

That question may not be formally printed on the agenda.

But it may be one of the most important issues on the floor.

The Answer for the USA

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Tue, 19 May 2026 15:20:12 -0500

America is living through a season of deep division. Nearly every headline, court decision, podcast, sermon, and political conversation is interpreted through one question: “Are you for Donald Trump or against him?” Supporters view him as a defender of forgotten Americans, traditional values, and the answers to this country's problems. Opponents see him as a threat to their power, the democratic norms and national unity. In many ways, President Donald Trump has become more than a political figure; he has become a symbol around which the frustrations, fears, hopes, and anger of an entire nation revolve.

But this division did not begin with Donald Trump. His presidency revealed or exposed something that had already been growing in the American soul for decades: a nation slowly losing its moral center, its trust in institutions, and perhaps most importantly, its shared faith in something greater than itself.

America has always experienced political disagreement. From the fierce debates between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams to the divisions of the Civil War and the protests of the Vietnam era, conflict is not new to our story. Yet previous generations often possessed a common foundation that allowed them to disagree without completely destroying one another. That foundation was not merely patriotism or civic pride. At its best, it was a widespread belief that there existed a God above government, truth above opinion, and morality above politics.

For much of American history, even people with sharp political differences still gathered in churches together, prayed together, served together, and believed they were accountable to a higher authority than Washington. Faith did not erase disagreement, but it placed human power in perspective. Citizens understood that no president was a savior, no political party was perfect, and no earthly nation could replace the authority of God.

As faith weakened in the culture, politics rushed in to fill the vacuum. When authentic faith is lacking, a void is left, and where any void exists, space is left to be filled, and generally it is filled by some secondary activity, like politics.

Human beings were created to worship (and not necessarily for politics). If they cease worshiping God, they inevitably place something else at the center of their lives—politics, ideology, personality, wealth, race, nationalism, or self. In today’s America, politics has become a substitute religion for many people. Political figures are treated either as messiahs to be defended at all costs or as devils to be destroyed without mercy. The language of public life increasingly sounds less like reasoned debate and more like theological warfare.

This explains why our culture feels perpetually angry and emotionally exhausted. When politics becomes ultimate, every election feels apocalyptic. Every disagreement feels personal. Every court ruling feels like the end of the world. Without faith in a sovereign God, people begin carrying emotional burdens they were never designed to bear.

At the same time, modern media has intensified these divisions. News organizations and social media platforms profit from outrage. Calm reflection rarely generates clicks or ratings, but anger spreads rapidly. Algorithms reward fear, suspicion, and tribal loyalty. Americans increasingly consume information designed not to challenge them, but to inflame them. As a result, many people no longer see opponents as neighbors who disagree; they see them as enemies who must be defeated.

This has produced a dangerous loss of civility. We have forgotten how to disagree without hatred. Many Americans now assume that if someone votes differently, they must also be immoral, ignorant, or dangerous. That mindset destroys the possibility of honest conversation because it removes grace from public life.

Ironically, faith offers one of the strongest antidotes to this problem. As you read further, please reason for yourself that we have become a 'gnostic' type of people. We tend to believe that knowledge is the answer for everything. But consider this.

True faith in God humbles people. It reminds us that all human beings are flawed, all earthly leaders are imperfect, and all nations ultimately answer to a higher King. Scripture repeatedly warns against placing ultimate trust in princes, rulers, or governments. Political systems matter, laws matter, and elections matter, but none of them possess the power to save the human heart.

When people genuinely believe in a God greater than themselves, it changes the way they engage with others. Faith teaches humility instead of arrogance. It teaches compassion instead of contempt. It allows a person to stand firmly for convictions without surrendering to bitterness or hatred.

The early Christians lived under governments far more corrupt and oppressive than modern America, yet they changed the world not primarily through political domination, but through transformed lives marked by love, truth, courage, and hope. They understood that while governments rise and fall, the kingdom of God remains eternal.

This does not mean Christians should abandon civic involvement. Faithful citizens should vote, speak truthfully, pursue justice, and participate in public life. But they must do so without allowing politics to consume their identity. A believer’s ultimate allegiance belongs not to a party or personality, but to God.

The healing of America will require more than policy victories or electoral success. It will require spiritual renewal. Laws can restrain behavior, but they cannot heal bitterness. Court decisions can settle legal questions, but they cannot restore compassion. Economic prosperity can improve comfort, but it cannot satisfy the deeper emptiness of the human soul.

What America desperately needs is not merely political reform, but moral and spiritual awakening.

That awakening begins when people recover the understanding that every human being bears the image of God. When we see others through that lens, it becomes harder to mock, hate, or dismiss them. It becomes possible to disagree passionately while still recognizing another person’s dignity.

This falls in the lap of the Christian Church in America. The modern day church needs spiritual revival. While pockets of 'revival' are popping up from time to time on college campuses, the church needs to not miss a opportunity of and for Revival. In the late 1960's, God awakened the hearts of the hippies and the church quenched the flames. Likely, this has happened again on some notable college campuses. Make no mistake, Spiritual Revival in the Church leading to Spiritual Awakening outside the church is the answer for the USA.

The nation also needs leaders—both political and spiritual—who value truth more than applause and reconciliation more than outrage. Public discourse changes when influential voices refuse to profit from division.

Families, churches, and local communities also have an essential role. Real relationships soften political hostility. It is far easier to demonize strangers online than people you pray with, eat with, and serve alongside. Healthy communities remind people that they are neighbors before they are partisans.

Most importantly, America must rediscover the peace that comes from trusting God rather than placing absolute hope in political outcomes. When faith rests entirely upon elections, fear will dominate every news cycle. But when faith rests in God, people can engage the world with conviction without becoming consumed by panic or rage.

The answer to America’s chaotic culture is not silence, surrender, or the abandonment of conviction. Neither is it deeper tribalism. The answer is a return to humility, truth, grace, and faith in the One who is greater than every political party, greater than every president, and greater than every nation.

A divided nation does not heal simply because people agree politically. It heals when people remember that they belong first not to an ideology, but to God.

An Anchor of Truth in a Sea of Uncertainty

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Wed, 13 May 2026 06:14:59 -0500

The Anchor in the Shift: Finding Certainty in a Changing World

We live in a culture that moves at the speed of emotion. Today, personal feelings are frequently elevated above objective facts, and what is considered "true" can shift from one day to the next. Navigating this landscape can feel like walking on quicksand. When the cultural ground constantly moves beneath our feet, it is natural to feel disoriented, anxious, or disconnected.

Yet today, our culture moment presents a profound opportunity. Instead of reacting with frustration (which is our first reaction), we can view this shift as an invitation to anchor ourselves in something that never moves.

As a child, Dad and I would ocassionally fish in the Pearl River. When we rented a little boat, we made sure we had an anchor because without it, we would be at the mercy of the river. In today's culture, we need to drop anchor in objective truth not emotional opinion.

The Fragility of the Temporary

Living by feelings alone is exhausting. Emotions are vital parts of our lives and experience, but they were never designed to be our foundation. They change with our circumstances, our energy levels, and the cultural trends around us. Building a life on shifting cultural narratives is like building a house on sand. Jesus ended His famous sermon with a picture of the results of doing such.

The ancient scriptures captured this exact reality thousands of years ago. The prophet Isaiah observed the fleeting nature of the world around him and wrote:

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8)

This verse is not a condemnation; it is a comforting reality check. It reminds us that while cultural seasons, human opinions, and emotional trends naturally bloom and wither, there is a bedrock of truth that remains completely unaffected by time. God's Word provides the stable, unyielding foundation that our hearts crave when the world feels unpredictable.

The Immutable Anchor

Truth is not just a set of rules or abstract concepts. In the Christian faith, truth is a person. Jesus did not just point to the truth; He embodied it. In a world where values and definitions are constantly rewritten, Jesus offers the ultimate contrast: absolute consistency.

The writer of Hebrews delivers this powerful assurance:

"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Think about the immense peace found in that statement. The Jesus who showed radical grace, perfect justice, and unwavering love two thousand years ago is the exact same Jesus who walks with us today. He does not change His mind based on cultural consensus. His character does not fluctuate based on human emotion. He is the steady anchor in the middle of our cultural storm. He can be counted on no matter what life throws at us.

A Positive Call to Truth

Embracing objective truth is not about winning arguments or looking down on the world. True active listening—and true love—requires us to offer something stable to a culture that is drifting. When we anchor ourselves in Jesus, we find the security needed to love others deeply, listen without judgment, and stand firm in our convictions.

If you are tired of trying to keep up with a constantly changing cultural landscape, Jesus invites you to rest in His consistency. You do not have to be managed by the volatility of the moment.

Turn your eyes to the One who is completely dependable. Let His unchanging Word guide your steps, let His steady love calm your anxieties, and let His eternal truth be the foundation of your life. In a changing world, He is the one reality you can always count on.

Five Lessons on Wise Living I Learned Years Ago

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Mon, 4 May 2026 15:28:00 -0500

Candidly, I know that I must have learned these from 'someone' or a group of 'someones,' as they are certainly not original with me, but things that I wrote down from someone much smarter than I am. All the same, time has a way of clarifying what truly matters. What once seemed urgent fades, and what once felt small becomes foundational. Years ago, I came across five simple truths about wise living. They’ve stayed with me—not because they are complicated, but because they are deeply true. Let me share them with you.

1. Most Important Is Not Things

We live in a world that constantly tells us to gather more—more possessions, more recognition, more comfort. But wisdom quietly reminds us that the most important things in life are not things at all. Relationships matter. Character matters. Faith matters. You can fill a house with possessions and still feel empty. But when your life is rooted in love for God and people, there is a fullness that no material thing can ever provide. At the end of the day, no one treasures what you owned—they remember who you were. Matt 6:19-21

2. All Glory Is Fading

There’s a sobering reality to life: everything earthly fades.

Achievements lose their shine. Applause quiets. Positions change. Even the things we once thought would define us eventually slip into the past.

Wisdom teaches us not to anchor our identity in temporary glory. Instead, we’re called to invest in what lasts—things of eternal value.

When you understand that all earthly glory fades, you stop chasing it so desperately. And in that freedom, you begin to live with purpose instead of pressure. 1 Peter 1:24-25

3. If You Have a Problem, Don’t Be a Problem

Problems are unavoidable. Life brings them to all of us—unexpected, inconvenient, sometimes overwhelming. But there’s a difference between having a problem and becoming one. Someone said, "Hurting people hurt people" and "Unhappy people wants to see more people like them."

Wise living means responding with grace instead of frustration, solutions instead of complaints, humility instead of blame. It means refusing to let hardship turn you into someone others struggle to be around.

Anyone can add to the tension. It takes wisdom to bring peace into it. Col 3:12ff

4. Only God Is in a Position to Look Down on People

There’s something in human nature that tempts us to compare, judge, and elevate ourselves over others. But wisdom cuts through that illusion quickly.

The truth is simple: we are all on level ground before God.

The only One who has the right to look down on anyone is God—and even He chooses mercy.

When you understand this, it reshapes how you see people. Pride gives way to humility. Judgment gives way to compassion. You begin to lift others up instead of looking down on them.

That is the posture of a wise life. James 2:1ff

5. When You’re Gone, Leave a Testimony, Not a Title

Titles are temporary. Positions are passing. While we tend to like the titles of mankind; Doctor, Chief, Reverend, Mister, Honorable, and the like, the truth is this: The roles we hold today will one day belong to someone else.

But a testimony—that’s different. A testimony is the story of a life well lived. It’s the impact you leave behind in the hearts of others. It’s the evidence that your life pointed somewhere greater than yourself.

When people remember you, they won’t be changed by your title. They’ll be shaped by your testimony—your faith, your kindness, your integrity, your love for God and others.

I heard an old preacher say this, "Live in such a way that the preacher doesn't have to lie at your funeral." Good word. Another thought might be, "Live in such a way that when your name is spoken, it brings to mind a life that mattered." Proverbs 22:1, Matthew 5:16

Final Thought

Wise living isn’t complicated, but it is intentional. It’s choosing people over possessions. Eternal over temporary. Peace over chaos. Humility over pride. Legacy over position. It's choosing Jesus over the world.

These five truths have stood the test of time in my life. And if you hold onto them, they’ll steady yours as well.

Because in the end, wisdom isn’t about knowing more—it’s about living better.

Church - Not Just a Place to Go - But A Life to Live

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Sat, 2 May 2026 07:44:00 -0500

The phrase “Church of Jesus Christ” has been quietly reduced in many minds to a location, a calendar event, or a weekly obligation. For some, it is a building you enter on Sunday morning and leave behind by noon. But when you listen carefully to the words of Jesus, that understanding begins to unravel. The church He described was never meant to be merely a place you go—it is something you are.

Jesus first introduces His church in a deeply personal way: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Notice what He does not say. He does not point to a structure, a schedule, or a system. He speaks of a people—living, moving, advancing. The word He uses for “church” (ekklesia) refers to a called-out assembly, not a physical location. From the very beginning, Jesus defines His church as something alive.

When church is reduced to a place, commitment becomes minimal and manageable. You attend, you listen, you leave—and in many cases, you feel as though you’ve fulfilled your responsibility. Faith becomes compartmentalized. It exists within the walls of a building but rarely extends into daily decisions, relationships, or priorities. In this model, attendance replaces transformation.

Make no mistake, the 'assembling of the Church' is a vital part of being counted among the Redeemed. It is in these 'assembly time' that God's people grow in faith, unity, and fellowship. To minimize the assembly is a huge mistake, at the same time, to make the entire goal being assembly is to miss the words of Jesus. Candidly for many in 21st century small town America (admittedly in the South), for several generations, the concept of the church has, subconsciously, developed into Church as being simply the place we go (when we can).

But Jesus consistently calls His followers to something far deeper.

He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). That is not language of occasional participation—it is the language of identity and surrender. To be part of His church is to live a life shaped by Him, not just to visit a place associated with Him.

Again, Jesus makes this unmistakably clear in John 15: “Abide in me, and I in you… apart from me you can do nothing.” Abiding is not something you do once a week. It is a constant, ongoing relationship. It speaks of dependence, connection, and daily life. If the church is His body, then it cannot be disconnected from Him except in appearance only.

This is where the difference becomes undeniable:

When church is a place you go, faith is optional beyond attendance. It is worth noting that anything we make optional in our lives will, at some point, not be a part of our life.

When church is something you are, faith becomes the framework of your life. In other words, you live life according to the words, principles, and calling of Christ.

Jesus describes His followers as “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Light does not exist only in one location—it shines wherever it is. If the church is the light, then it must extend beyond a building into homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and conversations. A light that only shines inside a building isn’t fulfilling its purpose.

He also says, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). That kind of identifying love cannot be contained within a weekly gathering. It is lived out in how we forgive, serve, give, and respond to others daily. The church, then, is not defined by where it gathers but by how it lives.

One of the clearest pictures Jesus gives is in Matthew 7, where He speaks of those who hear His words and do them versus those who hear and do not. The difference is not knowledge—it is application. It is the difference between attending and becoming.

This exposes the real danger of viewing the church as merely a place: it allows a person to feel spiritually complete without being spiritually transformed. You can sit in a service and still live disconnected from Christ. You can hear truth without being shaped by it. You can attend without abiding.

But when the church becomes something you are, everything changes.

Prayer is no longer seen as a burden--It becomes a normal part of your day
Worship is no longer confined to songs—it becomes a lifestyle.
Evangelism is no longer for the 'spiritual elite' -- it becomes a natural outflow of life.
Discipleship is no longer for a few--it becomes a normal path for all
Fellowship is no longer a handshake—it becomes shared life.
Ministry is no longer a program—it becomes a posture.
Mission is no longer a "Pastor" vision--it becomes a church reality
Obedience is no longer occasional—it becomes intentional.

Jesus never invited people to attend something. He invited them to follow Him. “Follow me” was His consistent call. And following Him leads to a life that reflects Him—not just in moments, but in patterns.

So the question is not, “Do I go to church?”

The deeper question is, “Am I part of what Jesus is building?”

Because His church is not a place you go, It is a life you live!

A Sobering Moment

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:45:00 -0500

The other day, I found myself sitting quietly—thinking, praying, and examining what I see unfolding around me. In that stillness, a troubling thought settled deep within my heart. I marvel at how easily many people claim to “know the Lord Jesus,” and yet seem able to walk away from Him without hesitation, without grief, and without pause. It is not always done with open defiance, but often with subtle replacement—filling the space once reserved for Christ with comfort, convenience, and personal desire.

One of the clearest signs of this shift is what has happened to the Lord’s Day. Sunday, once set apart as a holy day of worship and rest unto God, has increasingly become nothing more than the “second day of my weekend.” It is now viewed as personal time—time to do what I want, when I want, without regard for the One who gave me breath, salvation, and purpose. What was once sacred has become optional. A few days ago I read a sobering and true statement: "Anything you make optional in your life will, at some point, not be a part of your life." What follows is naturally this: What was once an act of devotion is now weighed against convenience.

It is often said that there is no longer any fear of God in mankind, and to some degree, that is understandable. A world that rejects truth will naturally reject the God of truth. But what grieves me far more is this: the fear of God appears to be disappearing even among God’s own people. Reverence has been replaced with familiarity. Obedience has been replaced with preference. Submission has been replaced with self-rule.

Scripture warns us of such a time. The final verse of the book of Judges describes a people adrift: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” That verse no longer feels like distant history. It feels like a mirror. Today, it seems we have dismissed God as our King—not with our lips, but with our lives. We still speak His name, but we resist His authority. We still claim His promises, but ignore His commands.

This is not merely a cultural problem; it is a spiritual one. When God is no longer feared, He is no longer obeyed. When He is no longer obeyed, He is no longer honored as King. And when everyone does what is right in their own eyes, the result is not freedom, but confusion, decay, and loss.

My concern is not rooted in judgment, but in sorrow. I am deeply concerned about where we are headed. A faith that costs nothing demands nothing and ultimately, is nothing. A Savior who can be easily replaced was never truly enthroned in the heart to begin with. If Christ is Lord, He is Lord of all—of our time, our priorities, our worship, and our obedience.

Perhaps the question we must ask ourselves is not whether we know the Lord Jesus, but whether He truly reigns over us. Have we crowned Him King, or have we quietly taken the throne back for ourselves?

History—and Scripture—make one thing clear: when God’s people abandon His rule, the consequences are never small. My prayer is that we would awaken before the cost becomes unbearable, and once again learn what it means to fear the Lord—not with terror, but with reverence, humility, and wholehearted devotion.

As I sat there, saddened by what I was thinking, King David came to mind. It was in possibly one of the lowest time of his life that a very personal, yet powerful prayer came. His words can become ours: "Be gracious to me (US) God, according to YOUR faithful love and compassion, blot out our rebellion, our guilt, and sin. Wash Us with the cleansing of your blood and your word. Create in us a clean heart, renew us by, with, and through your Holy Spirit. Restore to us and Remind us about the joy found in your salvation." AMEN.

Stealing from God: A Matter of Ownership

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:13:00 -0500

As I began today, one of my devotional readings included a thought from "Margaret McDonald Bottome" about STEALING FROM GOD. Most Christ followers quote the Malachi 3 and leave it at that, but MS Bottome takes it to a level of thought and truth that few see. Her words spoke to me.

Most of us think of theft as taking something that belongs to another person. But there is a deeper, more subtle form of larceny that happens in the quiet of our daily lives: stealing from God. This isn't about breaking into a church; it’s about mismanaging assets that were never ours to begin with.

The Misuse of Entrusted Assets

We often view our time, talents, and money as personal property—resources we earned or lucked into. However, from a biblical perspective, these are "entrusted funds." When we funnel these resources exclusively into our own comfort, egos, or entertainment, we are essentially embezzling.
If God is the source of our breath (time), our abilities (talents), and our provision (money), then withholding them from His service is a quiet act of theft. We "steal" when we take what was meant to reflect His glory and use it solely to build our own little kingdoms.

The Theft of Self

The writings of Margaret MacDonald Broome take this concept a step further, moving from what we have to who we are. Broome suggests that the greatest theft is using ourselves for any purpose other than God.
This perspective is rooted firmly in 1 Corinthians 6:19: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own."
If we are "bought with a price," then our very existence is God’s property. When we dedicate our energy to bitterness, selfish ambition, or mundane distractions, we are using "God’s equipment" for unauthorized projects. To live for ourselves is to occupy a space that has already been deeded to the Creator.

From Theft to Stewardship

Recognizing this doesn't mean living in guilt, but rather shifting toward stewardship. Stewardship acknowledges that the "title deed" to our lives stays in God’s hands.

When we stop "stealing" our time and ourselves, we begin to live with a higher purpose. We realize that using our lives for God isn't a loss of freedom—it's finally using the tool for the purpose it was designed for. The outcome may be that we discover and unusual peace; peace with others, peace with self, and ultimately, peace with God.

SCOTUS - A Lone Dissent—and a Warning for America

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:47:00 -0500

The recent Supreme Court decision in Chiles v. Salazar has once again placed before the American public a critical question: who ultimately controls speech in this country—the citizen or the state?

In this case, eight members of the Court concluded that Colorado violated the First Amendment when it attempted to prohibit a Christian counselor from engaging in conversations with clients who voluntarily sought guidance consistent with their faith and convictions. Standing alone in dissent was Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Her dissent argued that the state has broad authority to regulate licensed professionals and therefore may restrict certain forms of speech when they occur within the context of counseling. But this reasoning opens a troubling door. If the government can regulate speech simply because it occurs between a counselor and a client, then what remains of the First Amendment’s protection for free expression? Once the state claims authority over what may be said in private conversations, especially those rooted in religious or moral convictions, the line between regulation and censorship becomes dangerously thin.

What makes this dissent even more concerning is the broader cultural influence that accompanies a seat on the Supreme Court. The Court is not merely a legal institution; it is also a moral and civic compass for the nation. Its members help shape how constitutional principles are understood by courts, lawmakers, and citizens across the country. When someone who appears to lack a clear moral compass occupies such a position of authority, the implications extend far beyond a single case.

Many Americans still remember Justice Jackson’s confirmation hearings when she was asked to define what a woman is and replied that she could not because she was “not a biologist.” That exchange revealed something deeper than political caution. It illustrated a growing cultural trend in which obvious truths are obscured by ideology. If our leaders cannot affirm basic realities, how can they be expected to discern what is right or wrong, lawful or unlawful, constitutional or unconstitutional?

This is not merely a disagreement over policy or jurisprudence. It is a clash between two visions of society—one rooted in enduring moral principles and another shaped by shifting ideological trends. The danger arises when the latter begins to dominate institutions that wield enormous authority over our national life.

Our founders understood that liberty depends upon moral clarity. John Adams famously wrote in 1798, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Adams recognized that the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution cannot survive in a vacuum. They require citizens and leaders who possess a moral compass capable of distinguishing truth from falsehood and right from wrong.

Looking at the cultural confusion that surrounds us today, Adams’ warning seems almost prophetic. If he were writing in our time, he might very well add that our Constitution also requires a people willing to reject nonsense and return to common sense. Common sense grounded in history. Common sense guided by morality. Common sense expressed through civility and reason.

When the voices shaping our highest institutions drift away from those foundations, the consequences ripple through every layer of society—our politics, our culture, and our civic life. A justice who views speech primarily through the lens of government regulation rather than individual liberty risks weakening one of the most essential protections our founders enshrined. FREE SPEECH.

The path forward is not despair but determination. Americans must rediscover the moral clarity and practical wisdom that once defined our public life. We must be willing to speak plainly, think clearly, and defend the freedoms that generations before us fought to secure.

If we hope to preserve the fabric of our republic, we must cast off the fog of ideological confusion and reclaim the steady ground of common sense. Only then can the principles of liberty, faith, and truth continue to guide this nation into the future.

America At The Brink and On the Brink

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 18:35:00 -0600

America at the Brink: From Order to Anarchy

If I offer an opinion about the USA over the past 5 or 6 years, one word comes to mind, Anarchy.

Anarchy is more than chaos—it is the absence of governing authority, a state where laws lose meaning and society spirals into disorder. For centuries, America stood as the antithesis of anarchy: a constitutional republic built on the rule of law. Our founders understood that liberty without law is not freedom—it is an invitation to tyranny and chaos. For over 200 years, this principle anchored our national identity. But today, as headlines scream of shootings near the White House, political assassinations, and rampant lawlessness, we must ask: Have we crossed the threshold into anarchy?

A Nation Built on Laws

From the ratification of the Constitution in 1789, America embraced a radical idea: that laws—not monarchs, mobs, or military juntas—would govern the land. This framework gave rise to the most prosperous and stable society in human history. Our courts, legislatures, and law enforcement institutions were designed to protect life, liberty, and property. For generations, Americans trusted that justice, though imperfect, would prevail.

This trust was not abstract. It was lived reality. Citizens obeyed laws because they believed in their legitimacy. Leaders respected constitutional limits because they feared accountability. The social contract held firm because enforcement was consistent and impartial. That is the America we inherited—a nation where laws mattered. It must be noted that the founder recognized the limits of our new and experimental system. In October of 1798, John Adams wrote the Massachusetts Militia these words, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Almost 230 years later we are seeing the fruition of these words.

The Slow Decay of Enforcement

But somewhere along the way, cracks began to form. Over the past few decades, a cultural and political shift has eroded the foundation of law and order. It began subtly: prosecutors declining to pursue “minor” offenses, cities adopting lenient bail reforms, and activist judges prioritizing ideology over justice. These decisions, often cloaked in the language of compassion sent a dangerous message: laws are negotiable.

Consider the rise of “smash-and-grab” thefts in major cities. Organized mobs loot stores in broad daylight, confident they will face no consequences. Carjackings and assaults spike while offenders walk free within hours. In some jurisdictions, theft under a certain dollar amount is effectively decriminalized. The result? Businesses shutter, communities suffer, and law-abiding citizens live in fear.

This permissiveness is not confined to street crime. It extends to immigration policy. Our borders—once symbols of sovereignty—are now porous gateways. The addition of "Sanctuary Cities" with millions entering illegally are overwhelming resources and straining social cohesion. When laws governing entry and citizenship are ignored, the very concept of a nation-state begins to unravel.

The Liberal Agenda and Cultural Disruption

Driving this decay is an ideology that elevates personal autonomy above communal responsibility. Under the banner of “progress,” we have normalized defiance—against police, against courts, against any authority that dares to enforce standards. Protests morph into riots. Statues topple. City blocks burn. And rather than condemn lawlessness, some leaders excuse it as “expression” or “justice.”

This cultural shift is not accidental. It is the fruit of decades of rhetoric portraying law enforcement as oppressive and laws as relics of systemic injustice. While reform is necessary in any system, dismantling enforcement altogether is not reform—it is surrender. And surrender breeds chaos.

Today’s Flashpoints: Violence in the Heart of Power

The consequences of this trajectory are now undeniable. Now, two National Guard members were gunned down near the White House in an ambush-style attack. The shooter fired 10–15 rounds in a zone that should be among the most secure on earth. The symbolism is chilling: violence has breached the gates of power.

This is not an isolated incident. In recent months, political assassinations have rocked the nation. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was murdered during a campus event. State lawmakers and their spouses were slain in targeted attacks. Arsonists torch government facilities. Extremists plot against elected officials. According to Reuters, more than 213 cases of political violence have occurred since January 6, 2021—which was one of the worst days since the 1970s. This day was preceded by the 'summer of love' where one reporter ludicrously reported that 'the protest was mostly peaceful' while behind him in the picture fires burned.

These are not random crimes. They are symptoms of a deeper sickness: a society where laws no longer command respect, where political disputes escalate into bloodshed, and where the state struggles to maintain order.

The Anatomy of Anarchy

What does anarchy look like in practice? It looks like cities where police are defunded and crime surges. It looks like borders where sovereignty evaporates. It looks like legislatures paralyzed by partisanship while mobs dictate policy through intimidation. It looks like citizens arming themselves because they no longer trust institutions to protect them.

Anarchy is not declared in a single moment. It creeps in through a thousand concessions—each justified as temporary, each defended as humane—until the cumulative effect is irreversible. We are living that reality now.

The Cost of Lawlessness

The price of this descent is staggering. Economically, businesses flee high-crime areas, hollowing out urban cores. Socially, trust erodes as communities fracture along ideological lines. Politically, polarization hardens into tribalism, making governance nearly impossible. Morally, a generation grows up believing that rules are optional and accountability is oppressive. And spiritually? The soul becomes so hardened and insensitive that life means little.

This is not sustainable. A society cannot endure when its legal, moral, and spiritual, framework collapses. History offers sobering lessons: from the fall of Rome to the chaos of post-Soviet states, lawlessness is the prelude to tyranny. When order dies, power does not vanish—it consolidates in the hands of the ruthless.

What follows is a path to restoration. My prayer is that we will do personally what it takes so that corporately this great nation does not prematurely pass away.

Restoring the Rule of Law: A Path Forward =If America is to survive as a constitutional republic, we must act decisively. Here are five imperatives:
Reaffirm the Primacy of Law - Leaders must declare—without equivocation—that laws will be enforced. No more selective prosecution. No more ideological exemptions. Justice must be blind, not partisan.
Secure the Borders - A nation without borders is not a nation. Enforce immigration laws, streamline legal pathways, and end policies that incentivize illegal entry. Sovereignty is non-negotiable.
Rebuild Law Enforcement Capacity - Fund police departments adequately. Invest in training and accountability, but reject narratives that demonize officers wholesale. Communities thrive when safety is restored.
Reform the Judiciary - Judges must interpret law, not legislate from the bench. Restore constitutional fidelity and curb activist rulings that undermine enforcement.
Revive Civic Education - Teach the next generation that liberty and law are inseparable. Freedom is not the absence of restraint—it is the presence of justice.
Renew our commitment to Jehovah God and His Principles - Of all that I've mentioned, this was will be viewed as the 'ramblings of a preacher', yet returning to this one principle has the ability to bring peace and civility to this nation. While this is mentioned last, it is really first. The decay of culture began with the decay of belief in Christ. He offers real answers to our real need.

The Choice Before Us

America stands at a crossroads. We can continue down the path of permissiveness, watching our cities burn and our institutions crumble. Or we can reclaim the principles that made us exceptional: the rule of law, equal justice, deep spiritual commitment, and ordered liberty. The choice is ours—but time is short. Anarchy is not a distant threat. It is here, knocking at the gates of our Republic. The question is whether we will answer with resolve—or with resignation.

Little Late But a Little Help

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 11:48:00 -0500

It’s been a month, but because I’m the only editor, when life sends bends in the road, you take them and get back to the journey when you can. Since the last mailout, I had multiple funerals and IT difficulties to take care of.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I pray that you discover something helpful in the Faith or the Tech part of this mailout.

Don’t forget, if you have tech that you use in ministry that might assist someone, let me know and I’ll do my best to include it. Godspeed.

“The Road Home”

Luke 15:11–24

Finding the road home is only needful if we have left home to begin with. Jesus tells a story of a young man who did exactly this. He demands his inheritance early—a bold insult in that culture. He leaves home, wastes everything, and ends up feeding pigs, starving, and alone.

Perhaps this boy is not the only one. Consider how this story unfolds.

1. Rejection

The story begins with a son who didn’t just leave home—he rejected it.

He rejected the Father’s authority.

He rejected the Father’s provision.

He rejected the Father’s love.

He said, in essence, “I want your stuff, but I don’t want you.” And with pockets full of inheritance and a heart full of pride, he walked away.

We’ve all done that. Maybe not with words, but with choices. We’ve said, “I’ll do life my way.” And like the prodigal, we’ve found that freedom without the Father isn’t freedom at all—it’s famine.

2. Remember

Then came the pigpen.

The prodigal didn’t just lose money—he lost himself. But Scripture says, “He came to his senses.” (v.17)

He remembered the Father’s kindness.

He remembered the Father’s house.

He remembered who he was.

Sometimes God lets us hit bottom so we’ll look up. The pigpen isn’t the end—it’s the place where memory meets mercy.

3. Repentance

The son didn’t just feel bad—he turned back.

He didn’t blame the famine. He didn’t blame his friends. He said, “I have sinned against heaven and against you.” (v.18)

That’s repentance. Not just regret, but return. Not just sorrow, but surrender.

He didn’t come back demanding rights—he came back hoping for crumbs. And that’s when grace exploded.

4. Return

The boy started walking home. But before he could reach the gate, the Father ran.

He didn’t wait for the full apology.

He didn’t demand repayment.

He ran, embraced, and restored.

Because returning home wasn’t just about geography—it was about the heart. The Father wasn’t just welcoming a son back to the house. He was welcoming him back to relationship.

This story isn’t just about a prodigal—it’s about all of us.

We’ve rejected, remembered, and we’ve repented.

Now it’s time to return. And when we do, the Father doesn’t walk—He runs. Because grace doesn’t wait at the door. It meets us on the road.

So wherever you are today, whatever pigpen you’ve wandered into, hear this:

The road home is open. The Father is watching. And He still runs.

The journey back to the Father begins with the heart.

TECH: Tools for the Text

When it comes to presentations (see previous newsletters), I’m still a PowerPoint Person, mainly because I, personally, have found more difficulty with the IOS than with Windows or Linux. (Candidly, if you see how IOS and Windows function, they handle very similarly from the user side, it really a matter of personal preference.) As you likely know, PowerPoint is a part of the Windows Office Suite and it gives a plethora of options for animations that are helpful in a powerful presentation.

I’ve used “Keynote” on the Mac sparingly – and it seems a good IOS tool, but perhaps not as good as Prezi. Let me offer bullet points for a few other IOS tools:

· Pitch: A modern, collaborative presentation tool designed for teams. It offers sleek templates and real-time editing, making it ideal for startups and remote work environments.

· FlowVella: Built specifically for Mac and iOS, FlowVella allows for interactive presentations with embedded videos, PDFs, and galleries. Great for kiosks, museums, and education.

· Prezi: Known for its dynamic, zooming presentation style, Prezi breaks away from traditional slide formats. It’s web-based but works well on Mac browsers.

· Google Slides: A cloud-based alternative that’s free and integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace. It’s accessible via Safari or Chrome on Mac.

· TouchCast: Offers interactive video presentations, blending live video with slides and web content. It’s more niche but powerful for media-rich storytelling.

Here are three links to assist you in getting a helpful app or software to assist you in your spiritual growth.

Logos Bible Software

Accordance Bible Software

Olive Tree Bible App

Final Word

I pray that some of these suggestion assist you. If you have suggestions for me, please feel free to send them my way.

Until next time, keep the lamp lit and the heart open.

From Slavery to Sanctification

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:53:00 -0500

Scripture Focus: Romans 6:13-23

These verses offer an opportunity to review or evaluate where a person is in regard to his relationship to God through Christ. Consider the power of this verse;

"Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God... You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."
—Romans 6:13, 18 (NIV)

Paul’s words in these verses serve as a clarion call to identity and allegiance. He doesn’t mince words: we are either instruments of sin or instruments of righteousness. There’s no neutral ground. Most of the message found is scripture has a 'binary' response. Jesus said, "There are only 2 gates, 2 roads, 2 paths, and 2 ways." We make the choice and are on one way or the other.

The beauty of this passage is not just in the warning—it’s in the invitation.

Before Christ, we were enslaved to sin. Not just occasionally tempted, but bound—our thoughts, desires, and actions bent toward self and rebellion. For some, a reminder of 'where Jesus saved us FROM' is important. In another place, Paul boldly said, "And so were some of you." Paul didn't pull punches, he wanted us to remember our life before Jesus. This is not the end of the story.

Now, through grace, we’ve been liberated. Not to drift aimlessly, but to be reclaimed for holy purpose. Paul uses the language of slavery deliberately. In the Roman world, slaves had no autonomy. Their lives were directed by their master. So when Paul says we are now slaves to righteousness, he’s not suggesting a burdensome life—he’s describing a life of purposeful obedience, where every part of us is surrendered to the One who redeemed us.

Quite likely, if you are reading this, you’ve spent decades traveling this road and helping others move from bondage to freedom. But even now, the call remains: offer yourself daily to God. Your thoughts, your words, your influence, and all the rest—they’re all instruments. The question is: whose hands are they in?

Here’s a simple framework to live this out:

Mind: What thoughts dominate your day? Are they rooted in truth or fear?
Mouth: Are your words building up the body or echoing the world’s complaints?
Motives: Are your plans driven by comfort or by calling?

Faith and Tech (From Substack)

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:33:00 -0500

For nearly four decades, I’ve had the privilege of serving the Lord through pastoral ministry, preaching the Word, walking with families through joy and sorrow, and watching the Church evolve in both form and function. I’ve seen flannel boards give way to PowerPoint, cassette tapes replaced by podcasts, and handwritten sermon notes transformed into searchable digital archives. Through it all, one truth has remained: we serve a great God, and He is worthy of our best.

That conviction is what led me to launch Faith and Tech — a space where biblical depth meets practical tools, where encouragement and challenge walk hand in hand, and where ministry leaders can find resources that speak both to the soul and to the systems we use to serve.

A Ministry of Encouragement and Challenge

My heart for this blog is simple: to encourage, uplift, and challenge. Ministry is not for the faint of heart. Whether you're a seasoned pastor, a bivocational leader, a tech volunteer, or someone just beginning to explore your calling, you’ve likely felt the weight of responsibility of ministry and the need for renewal. I want this space to be a breath of fresh air — a place where you can find biblical insights that stir your heart, illustrations that spark your imagination, and tools that lighten your load.

Expect posts that dig into Scripture with clarity and conviction. I’ll share devotionals, sermon outlines, and reflections that aim to provoke thought and deepen faith. But I won’t stop there. I also want to challenge us — to think critically about how we communicate the gospel in a digital age, to evaluate the tools we use, and to ask whether we’re truly stewarding our gifts and resources for maximum impact.

Why Tech Matters in Ministry

Some might ask, “Why mix faith and tech?” Isn’t the gospel enough on its own?

Absolutely — the gospel is sufficient, powerful, and eternal. But the way we deliver it matters. Jesus spoke in parables that resonated with His audience. Paul quoted poets and philosophers to connect with the culture of his day. And today, we live in a world shaped by screens, software, and streaming. If we want to reach hearts, we must also speak the language of the times. For the unconvinced, can you imagine going to Brazil without an interpreter and attempting to deliver the greatest news ever spoken to mankind but not being able to because of the language barrier?

Technology is not a replacement for truth — it’s a vehicle. And when used wisely, it can amplify the message, extend our reach, and enhance the worship experience. That’s why I’ve spent years learning, testing, and implementing tech tools in ministry settings. From worship software to sermon prep apps, from audio mixers to video switchers, I’ve seen firsthand how the right tools can transform a service, clarify a message, and support the work of the gospel.

What You’ll Find Here

Faith and Tech is not just a blog — it’s intended to be a toolbox, a devotional guide, and a ministry companion. Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect:

📖 Biblical Insights

• Thought-provoking devotionals rooted in Scripture

• Sermon outlines with alliterated points and practical application

• Reflections on church history, doctrine, and spiritual formation

🧰 Tech Tools for Ministry

• Reviews and tutorials on preaching software (e.g., Logos, Sermonary)

• Tips for organizing and storing sermon illustrations digitally

• Presentation tools like ProPresenter, PowerPoint, and Canva for worship

• Audio and video helps for livestreaming, podcasting, and recording

• Guides for setting up church tech systems on a budget

🎙️ Real-Life Applications

• How to use tech to support pastoral care and counseling

• Creative ways to integrate media into teaching and worship

• Troubleshooting guides for common tech issues in ministry settings

• Case studies from churches that have successfully blended faith and tech

💡 Encouragement for the Journey

• Stories from my own ministry — the wins, the failures, and the lessons

• Encouragement for pastors navigating burnout, transition, or retirement

• Resources for mentoring younger leaders and passing the baton well

A Word of Caution (and a Promise)

For clarity’s Sake: Faith and Tech is not about over-promising and under-delivering. I won’t pretend to have all the answers or offer one-size-fits-all solutions. Ministry is complex, and every context is different. But I do promise to give it my best effort to bring the full weight of my experience — nearly 40 years of combining biblical truth with technological tools — to serve you with integrity, clarity, and care.

I’ll share what’s worked for me, what I’ve learned from others, and what I believe can help you serve more effectively. And if I don’t know something, I’ll research it, test it, and report back honestly. This is a journey we’re on together.

Speaking the Language of Today

We live in a world where attention is fleeting, screens are everywhere, and digital literacy is essential. If we want to reach the next generation, we must speak their language — not by compromising truth, but by communicating it clearly and creatively.

That’s my wish. To help pastors, teachers, and ministry leaders speak the language of today without losing the timeless message of the gospel. To equip the Church with tools that enhance rather than distract. To remind us that excellence in ministry is not about perfection, but about faithfulness that Jesus says leads to fruitfulness — doing our best with what we’ve been given, for the glory of the One who gave it.

Join the Journey

Whether you’re here for a sermon idea, a tech tip, or a word of encouragement, I’m glad you stopped by. I hope you’ll subscribe, share, and engage. Ask questions. Offer feedback. Let’s build a community of leaders who love the Lord, embrace innovation, and serve with joy.

For me, Faith and Tech is more than a blog — it’s a movement. A declaration that we can be both rooted and relevant. That we can honor tradition while embracing innovation. Then we can serve our great and only God, His Son-Christ Jesus, and the glorious gospel, with great tools of today, great spiritual passion of years gone by, and great purpose for tomorrow.

Let me make this commitment to you, if you choose to subscribe: Your email will not be ‘filled up’ with ongoing emails. My goal is to put something out about every two weeks. You can response if you need or want to offer something to me. I pray you will be a fellow traveler with me on this journey. Be Blessed.

(If you would like to feedback, please tell me YOUR FAVORITE and MOST HELPFUL piece of software in the ministry._

Jerry's Substack

Definitions Matter

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Wed, 9 Jul 2025 11:28:00 -0500

"A Culture of Confusion"

In a time when the U.S. Supreme Court is issuing rulings that shape the moral and legal fabric of our nation—from religious liberty to gender identity, from parental rights to the definition of citizenship—one moment from a recent confirmation hearing continues to echo with unsettling resonance.

When asked by Senator Marsha Blackburn to define the word “woman,” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson replied, “I’m not a biologist.” That answer, delivered during her 2022 confirmation hearing, was more than a dodge—it was a philosophical pivot that revealed a deeper crisis: if a Supreme Court justice cannot or will not define something as foundational as “woman,” how can we trust that justice to adjudicate the complex moral and constitutional questions that hinge on such definitions?

The Court’s Role in a Confused Culture

The Supreme Court is not merely a legal body—it is a cultural compass. Its decisions ripple through every classroom, courtroom, and church pew in America. In recent months, the Court has ruled on:

- Whether parents can opt their children out of LGBTQ+ curriculum in public schools.

- Whether states can require age verification for pornographic websites.

- Whether transgender minors can receive gender-affirming medical treatments.

- Whether birthright citizenship can be limited by executive order.

Each of these cases touches on the very nature of identity, morality, and human dignity. And yet, if the justices themselves are unwilling to define the terms at the heart of these debates, how can they render judgments that are coherent, let alone just?

Definitions Are Not Optional

To say “I’m not a biologist” is to abdicate the responsibility of reason. The law depends on definitions. Without them, statutes become riddles and rights become abstractions. If the Court cannot define woman, how can it protect women’s sports, women’s privacy, or women’s rights? This is not about biology alone—it’s about clarity.

Sadly, our culture has decided that long-standing definitions are inaccurate, so for the last half of a century there has been a movement to 'redefine' what has already been defined. How one defines 'normal' seems to drive a wedge into our culture? How one defines 'truth', 'morality,' 'right-wrong,' 'good-evil', as well as 'marriage' are all 'hot-topics' because of the desire to redefine what has already been defined.

The High Court could bring some closure to this if it can speak with both moral and intellectual integrity in an age of confusion.

In the aftermath of the public verbal sparring between our President and the Chief Justice, I sent this letter to Justice Roberts calling for Him - Well - read for yourself -

The Foundation Is Cracking

Like it or not, our Founding Fathers were deeper thinkers than anyone in leadership today. It is frightening to think of the outcome if we had need to develop a Constitution from ‘scratch’ today. The fear would be that the writers (our leaders) would be unable to penned a document that ‘cost them everything so that the country could have everything,’ but possible would write one that ‘gave them everything regardless of the cost to the nation.’

It appears that we now have people in critical place of authority who do not understand the basic tenants of what made this country great. The underlying, foundational beliefs that made it possible for us to grow this experiment we call ‘Democracy’ into a World power are being abandoned at a breakneck pace, and it’s on OUR WATCH!

Justice Jackson’s response may have been intended to avoid controversy, but it revealed a deeper fracture: a reluctance to affirm objective truth in favor of cultural appeasement. And that fracture is now visible in the Court’s rulings, where the lines between rights and ideologies are increasingly blurred.

When the Court upholds a parent’s right to opt their child out of certain curriculum, it affirms religious liberty—but when it refuses to define the terms that curriculum is built on, it leaves the door open for future erosion. This is only one example of the Courts missing their opportunity to help right the ship of this culture to objective, authentic, and unchanging truth.

When the Court rules on gender-based medical care, it must wrestle with what gender is—and if that question is off-limits, then the ruling is built on sand.

A Call for Courage

The American people deserve justices who are not only brilliant legal minds but also courageous moral voices. We need leaders who will not flinch when asked to define reality. Because if the Court cannot define a woman, it cannot defend one. And if it cannot defend one, it cannot defend us all.

God Needs Men

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Wed, 4 Jun 2025 09:55:00 -0500

In an age of cultural confusion, spiritual apathy, and moral compromise, one truth remains timeless and unchanging: God wants and needs men. Not because God is lacking or insufficient, but because He chooses to work through willing vessels—men who will stand firm in faith, fight for truth, lead in righteousness, and embody the strength of Christ in a world desperate for direction.

The Scriptures are filled with the call for men to rise up and take their place in the spiritual battle.

Consider the challenge in 1 Samuel 4:9: “Be strong and conduct yourselves like men… that you do not become servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men and fight!”

This verse, though spoken by the Philistines, echoes a universal truth—manhood involves responsibility, courage, and action. The modern church, however, seems to have drifted from this image. Many churches today are filled with faithful women, while men sit passively, disinterested, or entirely absent. This imbalance is not just demographic—it's spiritual. And it's not just unfortunate—it's dangerous.

One weakness for the church is the absence of a definition of ‘manhood’ or ‘what exactly is a man?’ After speaking to a men’s group, I had a man to come up and tell me where I could hear a true definition of a man. Certainly, this was a secular, humanistic view of manhood, but Robert Lewis gave an outstanding definition of a man in his “Men’s Fraternity” teaching. He said, “A man rejects passivity, accepts responsibility, leads courageously, and expects a greater reward, “God’s Reward.” This is the definition of the great need in both church and culture today.

A Church Without Men

David Murrow, in his eye-opening book Why Men Hate Going to Church, brings this issue to the forefront. He observes that most churches unintentionally create environments that feel more suited to women than to men. Soft music, emotional language, passive expectations, and relationally driven ministry often clash with the way many men are wired. As Murrow writes, “Men don’t see church as a place where they can win, compete, or take on a meaningful challenge.”

In other words, the church has too often forgotten the biblical call for men to be warriors, leaders, and defenders of the faith.

This loss is not trivial. The spiritual disengagement of men has a ripple effect through families, communities, and the culture at large. When men are absent from the church, they are often absent from their homes, emotionally or physically. Statistics show that when a father takes his faith seriously, the rest of the family is far more likely to follow. When he does not, the spiritual future of his children is in jeopardy.

The Biblical Call to Manhood

Scripture offers a very different picture than the passive or domesticated male figure often seen in modern church culture.

Look at Joel 2:7: “They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like men of war; everyone marches in formation, and they do not break ranks.”

This image of men as soldiers, disciplined and strong, is how God often describes His people. He does not call men to passivity but to purposeful action, bravery, and unity. God wants men who will stand their ground, climb the obstacles, and stay in formation—even when the spiritual terrain gets rough.

Likewise, the Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 16:13 offer a crystal-clear directive: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

There is no vagueness here. These are commands—not suggestions—for men of faith. Be alert. Stand strong. Embrace masculinity. Exhibit strength. The Greek word for “act like men” (andrizomai) literally means to conduct oneself in a courageous way. God is calling men to rise in boldness, not shrink back in fear.

Rediscovering the Masculine Journey

David Murrow’s second book, The Map: The Way of All Great Men, takes this conversation deeper. In it, he lays out a framework for masculine spiritual development, built around the metaphor of a map—a hero’s journey—that all men are meant to walk.

Murrow, explains that men are naturally drawn to a story—a quest. The Christian life, properly understood, is not just about attending church services or avoiding sin. It’s a great adventure, a battle between good and evil, and a mission that requires grit, perseverance, and sacrifice.

The three-fold journey he outlines involves: Submission, Strength, and Sacrifice.

These stages echo the lives of biblical men like David, Joseph, Moses, and of course, Jesus Himself. They began in obscurity and often brokenness, were strengthened through testing, and ultimately laid down their lives in service to God’s call.

Where Are the Men?

The crisis of absent men is not just anecdotal; it's measurable. In many churches today, women outnumber men by significant margins. An AME elder was asked about the ‘gender disparity’ in his congregation and his initial response was, “About 50/50.” After doing an actual Sunday worship count, he discover that, in the adult attendance, women outnumbered men by 5 to 1! He went on to say that he was embarrassed that he had not noticed the difference. Do not take from my words the wrong message but hear me clearly: While women’s faith and leadership are vital and invaluable, the absence of men creates a vacuum that leads to imbalance.

Many pastors are left wondering: Where are the men? Why do so many seem bored, disengaged, or completely disconnected from spiritual life?

Part of the answer, Murrow argues, lies in how we present the Gospel. If it’s only about being “nice” or “safe,” then it doesn't tap into the masculine heart. Men want purpose. They want a challenge. They want something worth fighting for. And the Gospel—when properly understood—is exactly that. Here are the big truths: 1) The Bible speaks of ‘acting like men,’ 2) Jesus didn’t call men to safety, rather, He called them to carry a cross and to be risk takers for the Kingdom.

The Need of the Hour

Today, the need of the church and the culture is strong, godly men. Men who will take responsibility for their families. Men who will lead with love, stand with courage, and walk in holiness. Men who will rise early to pray, go to war in the Spirit, and build up the church with strength and humility.

God is still asking today, as He did in Ezekiel 22:30: “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land... but I found none.”

Will He find such men in our generation?

A Call to Action

I end this article very simply. Let us not be content with comfortable Christianity. Let us rise with courage, integrity, and purpose.

God needs men.

Men of prayer.

Men of courage.

Men of action.

And now—more than ever—is the time to answer the call.

A Message from Beyond the Grave

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 07:18:00 -0500

Michael Catt Was A Needed Voice

There are times when God places someone in your life that, whether you realize it or not, will become an influencer, mentor, and friend. In 2011, my heart was reeling from a deep hurt and God granted me the privilege of meeting and getting to know Dr. Michael Catt. His influence and counsel on me was invaluable.

The word for me was always “AMAZED” at his level of understanding, wisdom, and focus, which all were driven by his spiritual depth and heart. No, it is not my testimony that Michael and I spent hours together playing golf, praying, or laughing, but those moments that we were together influenced me more than either of us realized.

In June of 2023, God called my friend home, he was only 6 months older than me. This is almost 2 years ago and, for me, I have difficulty getting my head around the fact that he’s gone from this life (I can’t imagine how Terri, Erin, and Hayley, have processed his truly untimely passing).

Visiting his web page, from time to time, to read or to listen to the wisdom he had and freely offered is a routine for me.

In this midst of the current chaos and turmoil of our country and culture, I visited his web page and read a posting from October of 2022, entitled “God is not the Cure.”

Below is a link to this blog/article/message because this message is needed today. It seems that too many have come to believe the Government is our answer. I pray that you will click and take 3 minutes to read Bro. Mike’s words. To me, it is like words from the grave. Thank you, Bro. Michael.

Michael Catt – “GOD NOT GOVERNMENT”

(Published first on Dr. Jerry N Watts’ Substack)

MAKES LITTLE SENSE

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 15:05:00 -0500

National Christian Leader after National Christian Leader in article after article, shame those who profess faith in Christ for voting for and supporting former President Donald Trump. From videos to articles to Tweets (what are they now called "Xs"?) to Facebook posts, if you vote for the former president, you are a member of a hideous cult with a malformed brain, a questionable character who doesn't love God or neighbor, and who has been reprogrammed to believe - well - whatever. The vitriol continues to grow as we get closer to the election. (It used to be 'election day' but that term seems to be a thing of the past. Now, it's more like 'election season.')

Today, I read that "Trump is the leader of a giant cult" and that "Harris is encouraging voters to choose joy and a more normal politics". Both of these would be laughable if they weren't so sad and serious. There are so many shortcuts through the truth that it boggles one's imagination. Let's articulate a few.

First, for all the vitriol and conjecture, we don't have to guess what we get with the Former President because he has already held the job for four years. I keep hearing about the 'mess President Biden inherited' (ala the Democrats) and my question is this; "What mess are you talking about?" Would it be the almost closed borders? Would it be the less than 2% inflation rates? Would it be that 'increase' in wages and felt increase in spending power that the average middle-class worker felt? Would it be the number of babies who were saved because of a 'pro life friendly' president? Would it be the fact that President Trump was friendlier to people of faith than any president in almost a quarter of a century? Would it be --- well, you get the idea?

Next, Mrs. Harris has also been 2nd in Command for 4 years. Topping the list of her time in office is her ability to not recognize a deteriorating person. For all who would argue about the current president's fitness for continued serving as president, I would argue for you to go and review the June debate. His mental acuity was on public display and the really sad part, is that seeing this, almost makes me believe that America (and certainly his close staff) is guilty of 'elder abuse.' The point this calls into question is, the judgment of Mrs. Harris. She has defended the indefensible and was still defending the President's mental capacity when the entire country saw and responded. It only took normal people 90 minutes of unfiltered access to recognize what too many of us have seen in our aging parents. She missed it. What will she miss on a national and international scale.

Furthermore, can you imagine Mrs. Harris sitting across the table from Putin, Xi, or Kim Jong Un? What will her strategy be? Here is where I get truly frightened. Will the 'joy and smiles' be effective among these strong leaders (or tyrants) who pronounce death to anyone they simply don't like, attacks countries who show any sign of weakness, and seek to takeover any country they believe can be had. What exactly will her strategy be? Nothing in her background tells me that she will be the broad shoulders that are needed to protect the homeland. What exactly does she bring to the table?

Admittedly, the end of the Trump presidency is a bad-mark that will never be erased. I will say that, in many ways, he is his own worst enemy. But for the sake of fairness and for the sake of our country, let's consider these truths:

The economy went upside down as a direct result of the world wide pandemic.
The accepted vote went the way it did because of the main-stream media and social media platforms did a disservice to all Americans by making decisions for us instead of allowing us to see information and make our own decisions.
January 6 happened because of the frustration of the mysteries surrounding the election. For those who believe 'no harm, no foul', let me just say that there are enough unanswered questions to make me suspicious. And the available evidence suggests that there was a type of a 'shadow movement' who set January 6 in motion and not President Trump.

Sadly, the mystery surrounding of the election will never be resolved because the people who could have vetted it, refused to. Calling out the people and entities who could have and should have litigated these legal issues 'on the record,' if for no other reason, than to HAVE a record for history is pointless. Like it or not, 'Election 2020'will remain a blackmark in history and not because of Donald Trump but because of the lack of investigation, interrogation, and inquiry, of the event.

For me, the list goes on and on and on. However, I would like to clearly say that this year's election is not about a 'religion,' 'false god,' or 'worship of any person,' rather, it is a lack of choice. As Americans, most elections offer us little in the way of what we would like. We have pared our election system down to 2 parties, so the option of a real choice is limited at best. We may have a likable candidate who has nothing in their background to prepare them for leading the greatest nation in the world with potentially the strongest armed service known to man. We may have a gruff candidate who is very rough around the edges but proven to be one who governs in a way that protect and grows this land. For me, this is our choice. While I may not like the limited choices that I'm given, I will make the best call based on the options in front of me. One who kills babies, laughs their way through serious engagements, and seems to verbally change directions as often as the wind (so you never know which way it's blowing). Or one who sets a course, charts a course, follows that course and one who just may, given a second opportunity, put a little better counselors around him. Many of those first counselors have shown their true selves as they 'didn't get their way' so now is the time they are given the platform to burn down the house.

For me, the decision is made. It's not because I'm mesmerized by one candidate, but rather, it's a lack of choices. In 50 years as a voter, I cannot remember ONE TIME when I voted for a PERFECT CANDIDATE. As the same time, it is my belief that to hand this country to one who was not up to the challenge of even being VP is a huge mistake. It's not about her being a woman because we have women who are well-prepared for this responsibility. It's certainly not about her race, this country has many people of many colors of skin who could and should be tapped for leadership. Having said all of this, I wonder why anyone would seek this POSITION any longer. So many people are so mean-spirited to whoever might allow their name to be mentioned that 'good people' refuse to consider this position. This seems to be something in our culture because it even permeates religious denominations.

Handing the leadership of this, the greatest nation of all times, to someone so ill-prepared is a recipe for disaster and it makes little sense. We don't have a perfect candidate, never have and never will.

My prayer is "Lord, please get us through this in such a way that my grands can enjoy the America that I love."

What of the Night?

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Fri, 9 Feb 2024 07:57:00 -0600

The Urgency of Revival and the Call to Shine

For the past month, our focus has been on the need for revival. But some may wonder, why all the emphasis on revival? What's the big deal? Well, the truth is, as believers, we are on a journey. From the moment we accepted Christ until the day we step foot on Heaven's shore, we are constantly in need of renewal, restoration, and refreshment.

In a sermon by Vance Havner, a 20th-century revivalist, he shared a message that resonated with me. It was based on Ezekiel 21:11-12, which speaks about the Watchman and the night. This message has great relevance for us today, as we find ourselves living in a time of darkness.

The Watchman

In the Bible, the concept of the Watchman is mentioned over 20 times. Watchmen were assigned to stand guard and protect the community from enemies. They were like sentinels or guards, alerting the people to danger. Today, we too are called to be Watchmen, guarding against the darkness that surrounds us.

But being a Watchman is not limited to preachers or leaders. Each one of us has a divine responsibility to sound the alarm and warn others of the impending danger. Just as a Watchman protects the city, we are called to protect our community, our families, and ourselves from the darkness that seeks to overcome us.

The Night

We are living in a time of darkness, as prophesied in 2 Timothy 3. Paul describes this time as perilous, with people becoming lovers of themselves and lovers of money. We see pride, boastfulness, and a disregard for what is good. People are ungrateful, unholy, and unloving. They have lost sight of the importance of family and respect for parents. Slander, lack of self-control, and a love for pleasure have become the norm.

But amidst this darkness, we must remember that we are called to be the light of the world. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others" (Matthew 5:14-16). Our light should not be hidden, but rather, it should shine brightly, illuminating the darkness around us.

The Time

So, what time is it? It is high time for us to acknowledge the darkness and the urgency of the situation. Darkness will never go away on its own. We must actively choose to turn on the light. As Romans 13:12 says, "The night is far gone; the day is at hand." The time for action is now.

We cannot deny the reality of the darkness that surrounds us. We must admit it and accept that we are called to be the light. It is time to let our light shine, to be the Watchmen who sound the alarm and protect others from the darkness. We must embrace the responsibility that God has given us and fulfill our purpose.

Accepting the Call

Revival starts with each one of us. We cannot rely on others to do the work. We must acknowledge that the call to shine is for us, for every believer. We have the power to make a difference in our community, in our nation, and in the world.

But in order to accept this call, we must first admit that we are in the dark. We must acknowledge the darkness that exists within ourselves and in the world around us. Only then can we truly understand the need for revival and the urgency of shining our light.

Once we have admitted the darkness, we must actively choose to turn on the light. We must let our light shine brightly, unashamedly, and without reservation. We must be the Watchmen who sound the alarm, warning others of the danger and leading them to the light.

Finally, it is time for us to accept that it is our responsibility to shine. We cannot rely on others to fulfill this calling. We must each take up our cross and follow Jesus, allowing His light to shine through us. We are called to be the light of the world, to be the ones who bring hope, love, and truth in the midst of darkness.

So, what will you choose? Will you embrace the call to shine, to be a Watchman in this dark world? Will you admit the darkness, acknowledge the time, and accept the responsibility? The choice is yours.

Let us pray together, asking God to empower us to be the light in this dark world:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you with hearts focused on You. We ask that You remove any distractions and help us to hear Your voice clearly. We recognize the darkness that surrounds us, and we admit that we cannot overcome it on our own. We need Your light to shine through us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and empower us to be the Watchmen who sound the alarm and lead others to Your truth. May our lives be a reflection of Your love and grace. In Jesus' name, amen."

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Are You Ready for God?

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Fri, 9 Feb 2024 07:29:00 -0600

Introduction

In this blog post, we will explore the concept of being ready for God. We will dive deep into the transcript of a powerful message and examine the importance of looking upward, inward, and outward in our spiritual journey. Join us as we discover how to prepare ourselves for a personal and intimate connection with God.

Looking Upward

The message begins with the speaker encouraging the audience to look upward. They talk about how we often look up to people who inspire, correct, and teach us. However, the speaker emphasizes that there is one whom we should all look up to - God. They describe God as being high and lifted up, someone who deserves our allegiance and devotion. When we turn our focus to God and empty our lives of worldly things, we have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of His power, majesty, and glory.

Looking Inward

Once we have looked upward and encountered God, it naturally leads us to look inward. The speaker reminds us that when we look at ourselves in the light of God's presence, we may see areas of deficiency, unrighteousness, and sin. This realization should prompt us to repent and seek God's cleansing. It is through this process of self-examination that we can experience true restoration and the joy of our salvation. By comparing ourselves to God's standard, rather than others, we can align our lives with His will and purpose.

Looking Outward

The final step in preparing ourselves for God is to look outward. Once we have encountered God and experienced His cleansing, we are ready to go and fulfill His mission for us. The speaker highlights that there are people out there who need the same touch from God that we have received. It is our responsibility to share the love and grace of God with others, to be a light in the darkness, and to bring hope to those who are yet to know Him. By looking outward, we can make a difference in our communities and bring about a revival that extends beyond the walls of the church.

Conclusion

Are you ready for God? This is the question posed by the speaker in this powerful message. They remind us that being ready for God requires us to look upward, inward, and outward. When we turn our focus to God, examine ourselves in His presence, and share His love with others, we open ourselves up to a personal and intimate connection with Him. Let us prepare ourselves for God's work in our lives and be willing vessels for His revival.

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Revival: Seeking God's Face for Renewal

jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com (Bro. Jerry) — Wed, 7 Feb 2024 14:29:00 -0600

The Need for Revival

Have you ever had a week where everything seemed to be backwards? A week where no matter what you did, it felt like things were just not going the right way? Pastor Jerry opens his message with this relatable experience, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the need for revival in our lives and in our land.

The Three Levels of Hearing

Pastor Jerry highlights the importance of listening with understanding, rather than just superficially or for mere facts. He emphasizes that when our emotions are touched, we truly engage our mind and connect with the message being conveyed. This level of deep understanding and connection is what we should strive for when it comes to hearing and internalizing the Word of God.

Revival: Breathing Life into the Dead

Revival is defined as an encounter with God, a renewal of spiritual life in individuals or among a group of people. It is a restoration, a falling in love with Jesus all over again. Just as life can be breathed into something that is dead or dormant, revival brings new life and vitality to our spiritual walk.

When is Revival Needed?

Revival is needed when our hearts grow lukewarm, when we lose sight of our purpose and abandon our beliefs. Corrupted standards, compromised beliefs, and a complacent attitude can all pull us away from God and hinder our spiritual growth. It is in these moments that revival becomes necessary to bring us back to a place of intimacy with God.

How Does Revival Begin?

Revival begins with conviction and repentance. Pastor Jerry highlights the importance of humility, prayer, seeking God's face, and turning away from wicked ways. It is through these actions and a genuine desire for revival that we can open ourselves up to the transformative power of God.

The Responsibility of God's People

Revival is not something that happens in the White House or in legislative bodies. Revival begins in God's house, with His people. It is the responsibility of believers to humble themselves, seek God's face, and turn away from wickedness. Revival starts with individuals who are willing to take ownership of their own spiritual journey and seek God's presence.

The Results of Revival

The ultimate result of revival is the healing of our land. Revival brings about forgiveness of sins and a renewed spiritual life. It is through this transformation that we can see a positive impact on our nation, as God's people live out their faith and become agents of change in the world.

Do You Really Want Revival?

Pastor Jerry poses this question multiple times throughout his message, emphasizing the importance of truly desiring revival. Revival is not something that God will impose on us if we are not willing or open to it. It requires a genuine desire to seek God's face, repent of our sins, and invite His transformative power into our lives.

Revival is not a one-time event or a series of meetings. It is a continuous journey of renewal and spiritual growth. As individuals and as a church, let us take up the responsibility of seeking God's face, turning away from wickedness, and inviting His presence into our lives. May we be agents of change and revival in our communities and in our land.

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