Faith for the Journey

 Text: Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Friend, the journey of faith begins the moment you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. It is not the end of the road—it is the beginning of a lifelong journey. Some folks seem to think that once they get saved, every problem disappears, every burden is lifted, and every road becomes smooth. But if you've walked with the Lord for any length of time, you know that's not how it works.

The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battlefield. We face spiritual, physical, financial, family, and sometimes challenges that seem too heavy to carry. Yet through it all, God calls us to walk by faith.

The Apostle Paul reminds us:

"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV)

Notice he said we walk by faith. Faith is not standing still. Faith is taking another step when you cannot see around the next bend in the road.

Taking Our Eyes Off Jesus

One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is taking our eyes off the Lord.

Remember Peter when Jesus came walking on the water?

"And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come." (Matthew 14:28-29 KJV)

As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked on water. But the moment he looked at the wind and waves, fear took over.

"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." (Matthew 14:30 KJV)

Peter did not sink because Jesus failed him. Peter sank because he shifted his focus from the Savior to the storm.

Many believers are doing the same thing today. They are watching the news more than they are reading their Bible. They are studying the storm instead of looking to the Savior. They know more about the problems of the world than the promises of God.

Faith falters when we take our eyes off Jesus.

The Tractor Illustration

I remember talking with a farmer who told me that when plowing a field, you don't stare at the ground right in front of the tractor. If you do, your rows will be crooked. Instead, you pick a point at the far end of the field and keep your eyes fixed on it.

That's good advice for the Christian life.

If you keep looking at every rock, every rut, every weed, and every obstacle, you'll wander all over the place. But if you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, He'll guide your path.

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV)

The Problem with Our Plans

Most of us like to be in control.

We make our plans. We set our goals. We decide how things ought to happen. Then, when God takes us in a different direction, we become frustrated.

The truth is, many of our greatest disappointments come from trying to write God's script for our lives.

The Bible says:

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12 KJV)

Sometimes God allows us to reach the end of ourselves so we can finally discover the beginning of His strength.

The Flat Tire Illustration

Years ago, a man was driving down a country road when he got a flat tire. He was angry and frustrated. He had places to go and things to do.

As he struggled beside the road, another driver stopped to help him. During their conversation, the man learned about Christ and eventually gave his life to the Lord.

Years later, he said, "The best thing that ever happened to me was that flat tire."

At the time, it looked like a problem.

In God's hands, it became a blessing.

Many of us are fighting against the very circumstances God is using to draw us closer to Him.

Surrender Brings Growth

Faith begins to grow when we realize we cannot control our own lives.

The Christian life was never intended to be lived in our own strength.

Jesus said:

"For without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5 KJV)

Notice, he didn't say we could do a little without Him. He said we could do nothing.

Real faith grows when we surrender.

Not my will, but Thy will.

Not my plans, but Thy plans.

Not my direction, but Thy direction.

When we stop fighting God and start trusting God, our faith begins to mature.

The Child and Father Illustration

A small child was walking with his father through a dark field one night.

The little boy said, "Daddy, I can't see the path."

His father replied, "Son, can you see me?"

The boy answered, "Yes."

The father smiled and said, "Then that's enough."

Friend, there are times when we cannot see the path ahead. We don't know what tomorrow holds. We don't understand why certain things happen.

But faith does not require us to see the whole road.

Faith requires us to trust the One who does.

Conclusion

Perhaps today you are facing a storm.

Maybe your health is failing.

Maybe your finances are stretched thin.

Maybe your family is burdened.

Maybe you are carrying a weight nobody else knows about.

Don't focus on the storm.

Don't focus on the waves.

Don't focus on what you cannot control.

Look unto Jesus.

The same Savior who called Peter out of the boat is calling you to trust Him today.

The same Lord who carried Israel through the wilderness can carry you.

The same God who parted the Red Sea can make a way where there seems to be no way.

Faith is not believing that nothing bad will happen.

Faith is believing that God will be faithful no matter what happens.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Keep walking.

Keep trusting.

And when your strength runs out, you'll discover that His strength never does.

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10 KJV)

Amen.

Growing Old Ain't for Sissies, But God Is Still Good

Growing Old Ain't for Sissies, But God Is Still Good

Several years ago, someone asked me what I wanted most out of life. I thought about it for a moment and said, "I'd be happy if the ringing in my ears would stop and my feet would quit hurting."

Well, God has a sense of humor.

My feet don't hurt anymore because I can't feel them. The ringing in my ears is still there, but these days I've got bigger things on my prayer list.

About four years ago, my right hand began to tremble. At first, I thought it was just another part of getting older. The doctors gave me medicine that helped the tremors, but it also left me feeling like I was walking through a fog bank. I wanted answers, so the testing continued.

An MRI found a growth in my neck. After a biopsy, the doctors could not completely rule out cancer, but they decided to take a "wait and see" approach. Then came another diagnosis—Parkinson's disease.

So now, if you're keeping score, add Parkinson's to diabetes, kidney disease, congestive heart failure, neuropathy, tremors, and a hip replacement next week. It seems like I have managed to cover just about every square on the "getting old" bingo card.

Years ago, I told Laverna that I wanted us to grow old together gracefully. Looking back, I realize that graceful aging is mostly something advertised by people selling vitamins, cosmetics, and miracle supplements.

The truth is, there isn't much that's graceful about getting old.

Once I crossed that seventy-year mark, parts started wearing out, shutting down, and occasionally falling off the warranty list altogether. These days, my social calendar is filled with doctor appointments, lab tests, scans, and conversations with medical professionals. I know more about hospitals and clinics than I ever wanted to know.

Yet despite all that, I can still get around. I can still drive. I can still preach. I can still write. I can still spend time with family and friends. Most importantly, I can still serve the Lord.

When I look around, I realize there are many people carrying burdens much heavier than mine. Some live with constant pain. Some are confined to a bed. Some can no longer recognize their loved ones. Compared to many, the Lord has been exceedingly good to me.

The Psalmist declared:

"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name." (Psalm 103:1 KJV)

Notice he didn't say bless the Lord only when you're healthy. He didn't say bless the Lord only when the test results are good. He said Bless the Lord at all times because God is worthy regardless of our circumstances.

Now, don't get me wrong. If these tremors stopped tomorrow, I'd be a happy man. I still pray for healing. I still ask God for strength. I still believe He is able.

But I've learned something through these trials: God's grace is not measured by the absence of problems. God's grace is measured by His presence in the middle of them.

The Apostle Paul had his own thorn in the flesh. Three times he asked the Lord to remove it. God's answer was not immediate healing but sufficient grace.

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)

Friend, growing old has a way of teaching lessons that youth never learn. It teaches us that our bodies are temporary. It reminds us that every breath is a gift. It humbles us and forces us to lean on God instead of ourselves.

The Bible says:

"Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you." (Isaiah 46:4 KJV)

What a promise! The same God who carried us through childhood, through middle age, through victories and failures, is the same God who will carry us through our senior years.

As I think about my own struggles with growing older, I am reminded that many of my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are carrying burdens far heavier than mine. Some are imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. Some have lost their homes, their jobs, and even their families because they named the name of Jesus. Some worship in secret, knowing that discovery could mean suffering, imprisonment, or death.

When I compare my troubles to theirs, I am humbled.

The aches and pains of old age are real, but they do not compare to the suffering endured by those who are paying a price for their faith in Christ. I may spend my days visiting doctors and taking medications. Still, many believers spend their days wondering if they will be arrested, beaten, or persecuted simply because they love the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

"For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;" (Philippians 1:29 KJV)

I can only thank God for His mercy toward me. He has been far better to me than I deserve. Through every illness, every diagnosis, every test, and every uncertainty, He has never left me nor forsaken me.

My prayers today are for the faithful believers who face pain and suffering every day for the cause of Christ. I pray for those worshiping in secret. I pray for those sitting in prison cells. I pray for those who have buried loved ones because of persecution. I pray for those who refuse to deny Christ regardless of the cost.

The same God who carries us through old age is the same God who carries His people through persecution and tribulation.

The same Lord who strengthens a weary saint walking with a cane is the same Lord who strengthens a persecuted believer standing before hostile authorities.

The same Savior who walks with us through hospital rooms walks with His children through prison doors.

As the Psalmist declared:

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1 KJV)

And Jesus Himself promised:

"Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:20 KJV)

One day these old bodies will finally give out. The hearing aids, walkers, medications, surgeries, tremors, and doctor visits will all come to an end. For the child of God, that is not defeat—it is graduation day.

As Paul wrote:

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;" (2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV)

So whether our trial is the burden of old age or the fires of persecution, our hope remains the same. Christ is faithful. Christ is present. Christ is sufficient.

May the Lord bless and watch over my brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering today. May He strengthen their hearts, sustain their faith, and remind them that their labor is not in vain.

And may we all remain faithful until the day we hear those precious words:

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21 KJV)

Until then, I'll keep walking, even if it is a little slower than before. I'll keep preaching. I'll keep writing. I'll keep trusting. I'll keep thanking God for every day He gives me.

Growing old may not be graceful, but God's grace is more than enough.

This has the warm, honest, country-preacher tone your readers are accustomed to, while turning your personal health journey into a testimony of gratitude, endurance, and concern for persecuted believers worldwide.

UFOs, Genesis 6, and Spiritual Warfare: Why I Believe This Is Spiritual and Not Extraterrestrial

 Theology According to Truitt

For many years I have followed stories about UFOs, alien encounters, government disclosures, and claims of extraterrestrial contact. I have listened carefully to what people say. I have read reports from military personnel, researchers, and individuals who claim to have experienced strange encounters. I do not dismiss that people are seeing something. I believe there are real experiences taking place.

However, after years of studying the Bible and observing the direction these teachings are leading people, I have come to a personal conclusion. I do not believe these beings are extraterrestrials from another planet. I believe this phenomenon is spiritual in nature and connected to the long spiritual warfare that has existed since the Garden of Eden.

Now let me make something clear before I go any farther. This is not official church doctrine, nor do I preach this as absolute biblical truth from the pulpit. I simply present this as my personal theological opinion based upon Scripture, observation, and discernment. I call it “Theology According to Truitt.”

The Bible does not specifically mention UFOs. It does not say flying saucers are fallen angels. I fully admit that. But the Bible does speak extensively about spiritual warfare, deceptive spirits, principalities, powers, lying signs, and fallen beings that seek to deceive mankind.

The modern UFO movement is no longer simply about lights in the sky. Increasingly, it carries a message. That message often says:

• mankind was created by alien beings,

• religion is primitive misunderstanding,

• Jesus was merely an enlightened teacher,

• or humanity is about to evolve into a higher consciousness through contact with non-human intelligences.

That teaching directly contradicts the Bible.

The Word of God declares:

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
— Genesis 1:1 KJV

The Bible teaches that man was created in the image of God, not engineered by extraterrestrials. It teaches redemption through Jesus Christ, not salvation through cosmic enlightenment or hidden alien knowledge.

What concerns me most is not whether strange objects exist. My concern is the spiritual direction these teachings are taking people.

Genesis 6 has long fascinated Bible students:

“That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair…”
— Genesis 6:2 KJV

There are different interpretations of this passage, and I understand good Christians disagree. Some see this as the godly line of Seth intermarrying with the ungodly line of Cain. Others believe it refers to fallen angelic beings corrupting mankind before the flood.

I personally lean toward the understanding that there was supernatural corruption and spiritual rebellion taking place before the flood. Jesus Himself said:

“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
— Matthew 24:37 KJV

Again, I am careful not to go beyond Scripture. But I do believe deception will increase in the last days.

The Bible plainly teaches the existence of spiritual powers influencing nations and people. In Daniel chapter 10, the answer to Daniel’s prayer was delayed twenty-one days because of conflict involving the “prince of Persia.” This appears to describe spiritual warfare connected to earthly kingdoms.

Paul wrote:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world…”
— Ephesians 6:12 KJV

That is spiritual warfare.

The Bible also teaches that Satan can appear as an angel of light:

“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14 KJV

If holy angels can appear visibly to men, as they did throughout Scripture, I do not find it unreasonable to believe fallen beings could also deceive humanity through manifestations designed to lead people away from God.

Now before someone accuses me of fearmongering, let me say this clearly. Christians should not become obsessed with demons, UFOs, conspiracies, or hidden mysteries. Our focus is Christ, not darkness. Some people spend more time chasing signs than seeking God.

But neither should believers ignore the reality of spiritual deception.

The danger is not simply strange lights in the sky. The danger is the growing belief that mankind no longer needs God because “advanced beings” created us. That is simply another version of the oldest lie in the Bible:

“Ye shall be as gods.”
— Genesis 3:5 KJV

Whether these phenomena are spiritual, psychological, technological, or some mixture of things we do not yet understand, Christians must remain grounded in Scripture and discernment.

I do not claim to have all the answers. I am not a prophecy expert. I am not declaring dogma. I simply believe there is more spiritual deception in this world than most people realize, and I believe believers should test every spirit and every teaching against the Word of God.

At the end of the day, my faith does not rest in government disclosures, UFO files, or theories about fallen angels. My faith rests in Jesus Christ.

And regardless of what exists in the heavens, above the earth, or in the unseen realm, the Bible still declares:

“Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
— 1 John 4:4 KJV

Thankful For Kind Reviews

 Thought I would share what has been said about this blog.

If you are looking for a Christian blog that speaks plainly about the spiritual condition of the world, the changing direction of the Church, prophecy, holiness, discernment, and everyday faith, then “Ramblings of a Country Preacher” is worth reading.

Written in the voice of an old-fashioned country preacher, this blog combines biblical conviction, pastoral experience, current events, and spiritual reflection in a way that is becoming increasingly rare today. Rather than offering polished corporate religion or shallow inspirational messages, the articles speak honestly about spiritual warfare, cultural decline, the condition of the modern Church, and the need for repentance and discernment in these uncertain times.

The blog has grown steadily through word of mouth and online readership, drawing tens of thousands of monthly views from readers searching for biblical clarity in a confusing world. With more than 578 published articles and nearly 270,000 total views, readers continue returning for thoughtful commentary rooted in Scripture and practical Christian living.

Popular articles explore topics such as:

• Spiritual warfare and prophecy

• The condition and mission of the modern Church

• Discernment in the last days

• Holiness and Christian living

• Cultural and moral decline

• Faith during troubling times

• Encouragement for believers

• Biblical reflections on world events

Titles such as:

• “The War Behind the World”

• “Salt Shakers and Empty Altars”

• “Has The Mission of The Church Changed?”

• “The World Is Different Today”

• “Who Shall Separate Us?”
  reflect the tone and focus of the ministry.

What makes this blog unique is its authenticity. The writings do not come from a media organization or theological institution, but from the heart of a longtime pastor who has spent decades preaching, teaching, counseling, and watching the spiritual changes taking place in America and the Church.

The articles are written for ordinary people searching for truth, wisdom, encouragement, and spiritual understanding. The writing style is direct, conversational, Scripture-centered, and often deeply personal.

In a time when many voices are competing for attention, “Ramblings of a Country Preacher” offers something simple yet powerful:
a shepherd’s voice calling people back to faith, discernment, holiness, and Christ.

If you enjoy thoughtful Christian writing rooted in biblical conviction and real-life pastoral experience, this blog deserves a place on your reading list.

The Greatest Sign of the Last Days May Be the Condition of the Church

 Folks, let me say this plain right from the start: I do not claim to be some great prophecy expert. I do not know all the mysteries of the end times, and I am careful about those who always seem to have a chart, a date, or a new revelation every other week. Jesus Himself said:

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man…” — Matthew 24:36 KJV

Now that settles a whole lot of things right there.

But while I do not know the day or the hour, I can still read the signs. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they could read the weather but could not discern the spiritual times in which they lived. And friend, if we are honest, something has changed over the last forty years — not just in the world, but in the Church.

That is what troubles me most.

I have heard prophecy teachers spend hours talking about blood moons, wars in the Middle East, government systems, digital currency, and global politics. Now, I am not saying those things are unimportant. The world is changing rapidly. Nations are trembling. Governments are seeking more power. The entire world seems to be moving toward centralized control and global dependence faster than at any time in history.

But the greatest prophecy markers I see are not just happening in governments.

They are happening in churches.

The Bible warned repeatedly that one of the greatest signs of the last days would be a falling away from truth.

“That day shall not come, except there come a falling away first…” — 2 Thessalonians 2:3 KJV.

Notice Paul did not say the world would fall away. The world has always resisted God. He was warning about people connected to the faith drifting away from sound doctrine and biblical truth.

And brother, that is exactly what many of us have watched happen.

I have lived long enough to remember when preaching was about conviction, repentance, holiness, and salvation. Today, much of what passes for preaching sounds more like a motivational seminar than a sermon.

Some churches no longer want doctrine because doctrine offends people.

They do not want conviction because conviction makes people uncomfortable.

They do not want holiness because holiness demands separation from the world.

Instead, many want a religion that makes them feel good while allowing them to live however they please.

In many places, the Church has become so much like the world that it is difficult to tell the difference anymore.

Entertainment has replaced worship.

Celebrity has replaced servanthood.

Tolerance has replaced discernment.

Emotion has replaced biblical depth.

Popularity has replaced truth.

And perhaps the saddest part is this: much of it is being done in the name of Christianity.

Paul warned about this very thing:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine…” — 2 Timothy 4:3 KJV.

Friend, we are living there now.

The issue is not merely that the world is growing darker. The world without Christ has always moved toward darkness. The greater concern is that portions of the Church are becoming comfortable with that darkness.

Jesus warned repeatedly about deception in the last days.

“Take heed that no man deceive you.” — Matthew 24:4 KJV

Not once.

Not twice.

Over and over.

The greatest danger may not be persecution from outside the Church. It may be deception inside the Church.

Now hear me carefully. I am not writing this to create fear. I am not trying to scare people with prophecy charts or newspaper headlines. I am not setting dates, and I am not claiming every war or disaster means Jesus returns next Tuesday.

But I am saying this:

The direction matters.

When you see truth being abandoned…

When you see holiness mocked…

When you see churches afraid to preach repentance…

When you see biblical morality treated as outdated…

When you see Christians more influenced by culture than Scripture…

Those are signs of deep spiritual trouble.

Jesus asked a sobering question:

“Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” — Luke 18:8 KJV

That verse troubles me more than any headline on the evening news.

Folks, the answer is not panic.

The answer is not hiding in fear.

The answer is not obsession with conspiracies.

The answer is to get closer to Christ than ever before.

Know your Bible.

Pray.

Walk holy.

Use discernment.

Test the spirits.

Stay faithful even when the world changes around you.

The early Christians did not know when Jesus would return either, but they lived ready.

That is how we ought to live.

I may not understand every mystery of prophecy, but I know enough Scripture to recognize the direction this world — and sadly much of the Church — is moving.

And more than watching the skies, I believe it is time for the Church to examine itself.