Chad Balthrop

  • Life Control

    The words we know determine the thoughts we think. The thoughts we think determine the attitude of our heart. The attitude of the heart determines the choices we make. The choice we make define our…

    Created 25 days ago

    Proverbs 10:11 (NKJV), Proverbs 10:12 (NKJV)

  • Pruning

    John 15:1 says, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” Churches – and people – go through times of pruning.…

    Created 5 months ago

    John 15:2 (NKJV), 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV)

  • Finding Your Way

    It’s entirely possible GPS was invented for me. I’m quick to confess, I’m geographically challenged. I’m not one of those masculine wonders who can tell you which direction is north while standing in…

    Created 5 months ago

    John 14:6 (NKJV)

  • He Who Must Not Be Named

    John 1:1, "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God." In the wildly popular Harry Potter series Lord Voldemort is the name of the ultimate bad guy. He's a vile and…

    Created 5 months ago

    John 1:1 (NKJV)

  • What if God...

    Right now our church is going through a season of change. In October God moved our Senior Pastor to Texas. By the end of July our Executive Pastor will begin a new ministry as Pastor of a church in New…

    Created 12 months ago

    Colossians 1:28 (NKJV)

  • The Parent Trap

    Recently I've been plagued by a question. It has to do with my kids. I have four children. My daughter is my oldest. She's nine. The rest are boys; six, four and nearly two. They are great kids. I love…

    Created 12 months ago

    Luke 15:11 (NKJV), Luke 15:12 (NKJV), Luke 15:13 (NKJV), Luke 15:14 (NKJV), Luke 15:15 (NKJV), Luke 15:16 (NKJV), Luke 15:17 (NKJV), Luke 15:18 (NKJV), Luke 15:19 (NKJV), Luke 15:20 (NKJV), Luke 15:21 (NKJV), Luke 15:22 (NKJV), Luke 15:23 (NKJV), Luke 15:24 (NKJV), Luke 15:25 (NKJV), Luke 15:26 (NKJV), Luke 15:27 (NKJV), Luke 15:28 (NKJV), Luke 15:29 (NKJV), Luke 15:30 (NKJV), Luke 15:31 (NKJV), Luke 15:32 (NKJV)

  • A Missionary Heart

    Recently I was listening to a message by Mark Driscoll. He's the pastor at Mars Hill Community Church in Seattle. He was preaching on the cost of discipleship. During his message he read a letter from…

    Created about 1 year ago

    1 Corinthians 9:24 (NKJV)

  • Speeding through Afton - a.k.a. Observe & Obey

    Confession time. A few weeks ago I took my family on a short getaway to Dallas. It was a quick weekend trip, a time to play, relax, laugh and just enjoy some time together. Overall it was a great trip.…

    Created about 1 year ago

    Deuteronomy 12:28 (NKJV)

  • I Don't Give a Flying Fig!

    At first glance I find this passage odd. My gut reaction is wrong, but it's still my gut reaction. Why would Jesus expect a fig tree to have figs if it wasn't fig season? Why the extreme reaction of cursing…

    Created about 1 year ago

    Mark 11:13 (NKJV)

  • Skiing Naked While Smoking Dope

    There's a movie I enjoyed growing up called Roxanne. Steve Martin is the star. It's based on an older movie called Cyrano de Begerac. It's the story of an exceptionally skilled and intelligent man who…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Mark 9:38 (NKJV)

  • What's On Your Mind?

    Sometimes I feel like a spiritual manic depressive. Like Peter, there are days when I get things gloriously right. "Who do men say that I am?" asks Jesus. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Mark 8:33 (NKJV)

  • And the Oscar Goes to...

    Jesus is constantly turning the world on end. Last night was the Oscars. Hollywood insiders got together to recognize the best of the best in film and entertainment this past year. Everyone in the room,…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Mark 7:37 (NKJV)

  • Beautiful Obedience

    I just started reading the book of Numbers in the Old Testament. Now there's a thrilling book to read. It starts with a census. Moses, led by God, asks the question, how many able-bodied men above the…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Numbers 2:34 (NKJV)

  • On Our Side

    Chris Tomlin is one of my favorite artists. He's written a song called, 'On Our Side'. It says simply, "If God is on our side who can be against us? If God is on our side we won't be afraid. Though the…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Leviticus 26:24 (NKJV)

  • Us Four and No More

    I really enjoy the writing of Aaron Sorkin. You may not know his name, but you'll recognize his work. He has written some of the most recognized and well received movie and television scenes of all time.…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Acts 22:21 (NKJV)

  • Survival vs. Submission

    We live in a culture that values survival above all. Think about the heroes we admire in television, movies and books. They are almost always the ones who struggle against all odds and somehow find a…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Acts 21:13 (NKJV)

  • Up, Down | Confident, Confused

    I often feel like I'm living Psalm 13. It starts with what I might call an impatient plea to God, "How long will you forget me, God?" Yet it ends with a confident cry of trust and praise. In-between,…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Psalm 13:1 (NKJV)

  • All My Skin is Falling Off of Me

    Leprosy. It puts me in mind of a song. Sing with me now. Leprosy. All my skin is falling of me. I'm not half the man I used to be. Oh I believe I have leprosy. Sick? Maybe. Twisted? Likely. Mildly…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Leviticus 14:54 (NKJV)

  • Winking @ Sin

    God takes sin seriously. I’m confident we don’t. God expects holiness from His people. I’m certain we consider holiness an impossible dream we never even try to achieve. No long story here. No elaborate…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Leviticus 10:1 (NKJV)

  • Just Eat It

    I'm reading Leviticus right now. It's not exactly the action/adventure book of the Bible. Neither is it the romantic comedy book of the Bible. It's more like reading a book of Law. That's convenient,…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Leviticus 7:6 (NKJV)

  • What's That Smell?

    This passage in Leviticus instructs the Children of Israel in the manner and method of offerings and sacrifice. The detail is remarkable. The fact that it was a bloody mess is also noteworthy. It tells…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Leviticus 1:9 (NKJV)

  • Stirred, not Shaken

    Have you notice that there seems to be two ways God gets our attention? Personally I prefer one over the other. Sometimes in the hardness of our heart and the busyness of our lives we refuse to listen…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Exodus 35:21 (NKJV)

  • Snow Daze

    It's February 2, 2011. Owasso just yesterday experienced it's largest snowfall in recorded history - 21". I believe most of that 21" is piled up against my garage door. Later this morning I'll take my…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Exodus 33:15 (NKJV)

  • Line-of-Sight Friendship

    I woke up this morning thinking about some friends. Do you ever do that? Maybe it happens when you first wake up in the morning. Maybe a certain song comes on the radio and you're reminded of friendships…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Exodus 28:29 (NKJV)

  • How to Keep Your Donkey in Line

    Have you noticed that there are parts of the Bible that are just plain boring? You get to some passages and it reads like an ancient legal manual on how how to keep your donkey in line. In other places…

    Created over 1 year ago

    Exodus 25:21 (NKJV)