Daily Devotional

  The Eleven Toes Series - Head's up! A heads-up post about a new series beginning shortly, called the "Eleven Toes" series. We'll have a fun--but with a measure of seriousness--look at inbreeding and intermarriage. We'll look mainly to Scripture; but also to history, pop culture, medicine, and other places. We might get grossed out a little in the process, but hopefully learn quite a bit. We might even find something applicable in this mess!  There will be a new post every Thursday until it is complete or I'm done. Part #1 is tomorrow, an introduction called "I Love My Relative?"

  I Love My Relative? Post #1 of the “Eleven Toes” Series   More than 20 years ago, Weird Al Yankovic recorded a fantastic PSA, creatively rewording Avril Lavigne’s hit, “Complicated” to address three largely ignored yet highly relevant subjects. In this song, he raises awareness for what too much pizza does to human digestive systems, as well as how dangerous roller coasters can be if you don’t follow the rules (Who wants to be killed at an amusement park?). If you’re interested in hearing this helpful message for its time, here’s the link: https://youtu.be/iOGXmmLSSdE?si=f52qq9iMIobevCM7   The issue this article is concerned with is contained in the 2 nd verse and chorus of Weird Al’s PSA parody. Here are the lyrics:   I was feelin' pretty down ‘Til my girlfriend came around We're just so alike in every way, I gotta say In fact I just thought I might Pop the question there that night I was kissing her so tenderly, But woe is me Who would have...

  Sermon from June 22 Morning Worship service "That You May Know" - 1 John 5:13-21 First Baptist Church, Carney, OK Pastor Dan Calkins Here's the link:  June 22, 2025 Sermon Link  

                                                    Non-Negotiables for Theology/Christian Life             I.                 The Divine (1-2)      1.     The  Eternal, Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit; One God, Three Persons. (Deut. 6:4, Mt. 28:19, Jn. 10:30, Jn. 15:26) ·        Analogies are useless to describe the Trinity. They generally fail in at least one aspect, and I don’t know of a single analogy failure that isn’t heretical (at least to its fullest extent). ·        The best sources for the Trinity are the Bible and the Athanasian Creed.      2.      Jesus Ch...

  Sermon from June 15 Morning Worship service "The Ultimate Witness" - 1 John 5:6-12 First Baptist Church, Carney, OK Pastor Dan Calkins Here's the link:  June 15, 2025 Sermon Link  

  What is the Athanasian Creed? Athanasius of Alexandria is an incredibly important early church father. He lived and ministered in the 4th century (c. 298-373), serving as a Christian theologian and intermittently as a Bishop in the catholic Church (between mandated banishments). He spent his ministry arguing against the popular heresies of the day, namely Arianism. Arians believe Jesus may have been the son of God, but he was created by God and thus not as divine as God (a belief carried on today by groups like the Jehovah's Witnesses). Since the powers that be in the catholic Church of the day were heretics (mainly Arians), Athanasius experienced punishments and persecution throughout his ministry.  He's attributed to be the author of the Athanasian Creed, and he also wrote definitive works on the Incarnation of Jesus and the Holy Spirit that continue to be important and widely studied. Part II is not as long as Part I, which you can find by clicking here. For a spreadsheet...