Hello,
Welcome and thank you to all who have found your way to the “Pursuit of Character” blog/website.
Our mission at Pursuit of Character is the continuous “striving” for, the Pursuit of, God’s Character. All we do – this Website, the Books, the Music, and whatever “step” He directs us to next – are to support others in doing the same. We are called to be a “light” in the darkness that finds the “Lost,” guides the “Wandering,” and joins with others to triumph over that darkness. Christ Himself instructed that we are not to hide this light from the world as “under a bowl.” Therefore, this Website, the Books, the Music, and whatever step comes next!
We are now accepting invitations to bring Raising The Church to your community in 2024. If you would like to know more click –HERE–
Our prayer for ourselves as we begin each day comes from Proverbs 2, and it is our prayer for you as well:
“…then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” Proverbs 2:9,10
Now available from Improve Life Publishing to aid you in your going out –Click Here–
To aid visitors in accessing what P.O.C. has to offer, we have added Audio recordings of the reading of content. Where you see this Symbol simply find the Audio bar like the one above and push the play arrow. Posts with this Symbol will have the Audio bar following the text version of the post.
POC – The Sum-up
The Character Issue!
Humanity today is ill with a lack of character. They impose it on their young, raising them under the lie that they can have Virtue without Character. Our children have all but lost the inherent presence of Truth, Courage, Respect, Compassion, Empathy or Sympathy, and Forgiveness, etc. This is unacceptable within the fellowship of His children, those who claim to be “Christian.” Upon our embracing His righteousness, we are endued with these very qualities, or as Scripture represents, His Character. The world and the churches have adopted the idea that these attributes of character are not requisite. The Truth Is, the world has suffered greatly under this lie, and the churches are not far behind. Without His Character, His Nature, His Image, we can neither teach what a Christian is nor attain it ourselves. There are very few evils worse than this that we could inflict on our children.
As for our “Beliefs”
We have only one. “God is exactly who He says He is” (Titus 1:2), and what He says is recorded in the original languages of the Holy Scriptures, compiled as the Book of the Bible (1 Corinthians 2:1-5,9,10). Our understanding of what He says is well published on our websites, in our posts, in our books, in our songs, and played out imperfectly in our daily lives. We pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and listen (1 Samuel 3:10) daily for instruction from the only Christ endorsed teacher, The Holy Spirit (John 14:26), who is the original author of the just referenced texts.
For more on
What & Who we are… –CLICK HERE–
Because You Asked…
We have had people ask, “How can we support Pursuit of Character’s ministry?” (give money to) Our answer has been, “You can’t.” But God has given us a better answer, you can’t just blindly give to P.O.C. ministries, . We have prayed on it and decided you can, as we “partner” with Christ, partner with us in His ministry. We have decided that we should not interfere with God’s Providence if He sends “spiritual siblings” to participate in our Going Out. So that is what we are doing. Click on either (or both) buttons below to find out how.
For more specific information you can also go to our “Going Out Partnering” page –HERE–
Note:
Our last New Year’s message, “Bittersweet,” is written by Pursuit of Character Chief Editor, Bethany Huot. We have been talking for awhile about her writing some blogs of her own. As we talked about what the last article of the year might be, Bethany went into the P.O.C. worship room and sat down at the computer. A short while later she said, “What about this?” The article she had written both reflected back on the year just completed and forward into the unknown. “Bittersweet” also reflects the hearts of all of us at P.O.C. Please take the time to read the very first installment of “The Bethany Blog.” (scroll down)
Latest Posts
Bridges
27 A.D. outside Rome, “One notable venue for gladiator games was an amphitheater erected in Fidenae at the bidding of an entrepreneur named Atilius. Despite his wealth, he aimed for a quick construction over a sturdy one — according to some sources, he urged the builders to use cheap materials (mainly wood) to build the stadium, and it was erected on unstable foundations.” When 50,000 spectators packed the new arena, it collapsed under the weight, and… –READ MORE–
Bittersweet
Here at P.O.C., our mission is the Great Commission:
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20)
While this summer we began “Going Out” in a more official way, we are always looking for opportunities to “make disciples” with each person God brings across our paths. Sad to say, those interested in even having a first conversation are few, but, of those few, we have had opportunities to help people begin or continue to walk as followers of the Way. In several cases, individuals have asked us to help them grow in their walk with God, to teach them how to study His Word and apply it in living their lives. This is something we are always happy to do…but it tends to be bittersweet. More often than not, each person invariably finds a Truth that is too hard for them, and they walk away sad. So far, each one has expressed a continued affection for us but has had one reason or another why they feel they can no longer walk with us in the Way. Similar to the excuses Jesus was given, we have heard:
I want to keep following Jesus… but…-READ MORE–
What’s News
We have launched our Raising The Church Outreach, a series of community worship events open to the public. Our series is appropriately named to reflect both the cause and the content. The world has been losing the real meaning of Hope for a long time, but this darkness has accelerated over the last few years. In the Restoring Hope series, we aim, as the name implies, to Re-introduce the meaning and the indispensable value of The Offer of Hope and the One who makes it. Each event includes Worship Through Song, lessons from The Hope Series, and messages from the Manual.
Bethany Rae’s singles from her Captivated album are now available in MP3 downloads right here on POC! –click here–
Breaking News! Bethany Rae is back In Studio planning and working on her next Worship Through Song project… her 2nd album, Cut Me Loose. Watch all year for the release of new singles from this album!
Our Ministries
More on our Mission: “To Go Out.” To those who understand this reference, no more needs to be said. To those who are unsure, we will expound. To Go Out in search of the “Lost” of Christ’s flock, introduce them to the Shepherd, and show them the Path to His fold. To Go Out in search of the “Wandering” from their belief in the Shepherd, support, admonish, and direct them back to the Path to His fold. To Go Out in search of those who “Stand” on the Path and “Strive with Christ” in “the Fellowship of Believers” and to Stand with them in proclaiming God is exactly Who He says He is!
The Foundation of all of this is that God, the Triune One, is the only authority in our decisions. From this simple position we have both been tested and have triumphed and will continue to Walk in the Way!.
Featured Posts
America Again – Carman
Before Trump made “Make America Great Again” popular, there was Carman. Carman stated a Truth that has been buried by “The World” and Forgotten by the churches… America was born Great because it was born Godly. When we allow – or worse support – His removal, we remove the only thing that made America Great! in the first place.
In 1993, Carman, who appealed most of all to the youth in this country, both warned of the problem in America and defined the solution. If you listen closely, you will hear him say that if we don’t fix this in the next “decade” we will be lost. He also made it quite clear what it would take to actually Make America Great Again… Put God Back IN!
Well, that decade passed, and as it did, it seemed America (government & worldly values) got more into the churches rather than the other way around. Today most Christians thoroughly support Separation of Church from State but apparently not State from Church, as they have bowed in fear and reverence while the State has barged through their doors and locked them tight behind them. When man puts Man between them and God for any reason, they have violated His sovereignty and His commands. Because the churches go along, they actively break the 1st, 3rd & 4th commandments.
Listen to Carman… I Dare You!
Watch… Listen… and ask… Have I been part of the solution…or… part of the problem? Carman references multiple historical and Biblical Facts. For this, the “truth police” are sure to “cancel” him sooner or later. For now, the link connects to YouTube, but I have captured the video just in case. While you’re at it, get his album The Standard from 1993. Listen… and again ask…
This video is offered for the Truth that it contains and not to “endorse” any suggested videos that follow.
Through Improve Life Publishing we are adding new ways we can serve His cause, which is our Mission. Currently, those include producing and publishing The Hope Series of books and the production and release of Bethany Rae’s Worship through Song ministry. It is our hope that you will help us in this effort, first with your prayers and second by taking whatever action you can to get these into the hands of the Fellowship of Believers known as “The Church,” whether Lost, Wandering, or Flourishing.
Thank you for stopping by.
We appreciate your support and hope that you will help us get the Word out.
Layout:
The categories were chosen to reflect the intent of the contained “Posts.”
No.1 “Just a Thought” is just what it sounds like. More than a decade ago, I started writing down spontaneous reflections I had.
No.2 “The Bethany Blog” is the contribution of our chief editor, Bethany Huot. While she has always been a part of our “morning coffee” and other discussions that provide the material for P.O.C. posts, we felt it was time that she brought the teachings the Spirit gives her directly to you… unfiltered. Hence, “The Bethany Blog.”
No.3 “Improve Life” was inspired by a New Year’s sermon published in 1799 by Minister David M’Clure, A. M. This amazing sermon is available to read on the “Lessons from the Past” page of this site.
No.4 “Occasional Boyle” are reflections inspired by Robert Boyle. Boyle was born Jan. 25, 1627. Known as the father of Modern Chemistry, the experimental method, peer reviewed publication, and “Boyle’s Law,” he was also one of the great, yet unnoticed, theologians.
His views on Biblical interpretation:
“We should obtain our opinions from Scripture rather than take them to Scripture since Scripture is the best expositor of itself.”
No.5 “Steel-Toed Shoes” acknowledges that there is only One who ever achieved “God’s Character.” For the rest of us committed to the “Pursuit,” sore toes are a familiar and necessary by-product.
No.6 “Religious Myths – Debunked” is simple. In fact, it is what our Raising The Church Outreach is all about. Every day since Christ exposed the pharisees as both devoutly religious and Godless, His New Testament Congregation have been on a path back to their position. Regardless of denomination, man has “added to or subtracted from” Scripture (see “The “Great Evil” Sisters”). From these prideful acts, man’s theology has, in many ways, denied Christ just as the pharisees and committed people of God (Jews) had done. As these “edits” are a move away from Scripture as originally given by the Holy Spirit, and, therefore, are not “Truth,” they are “myths.” Therefore, we return to the Source to restore what the Truth Is!