Hello,
Welcome and thank you to all who have found your way to the “Pursuit of Character” blog/website.
First allow me to clarify our motto, “In Truth – By Faith -Through Grace.” In “Alethia” – By “Pistis” – Through “Charis”. In “Divine Truth” – By “Actively Standing in the Truthfulness of God” – Through the “Gift of God’s Favor.” (For full studies see The “Is Series” )
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
Latest Posts
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How Are You Trending? Posted onThis morning over coffee we read again from Jowett, the subject was, “Testing the Trend.” No, Jowett is not all we are reading, we read direct from the Manual and are reading Morgan sermons on the weekends, but it takes a while to get through a book when the goal isn’t just to read, but to discuss and learn. That said, Jowett’s point and this morning’s discussion brought to mind a favorite reference of Morgan’s; “Set your face toward Jerusalem.” –Read More– |
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Formative & Substantive Posted onThis post should actually be written by Bethany H., P.O.C.’s Chief Editor. Bethany has a PhD and has been both a university professor and a high school teacher. It will quickly become apparent why I say this. This morning over coffee, we discussed the eulogy of George Fox. Fox lived at the same time as one of our favorites, Robert Boyle, and was also what was known as a “Dissenter.” Fox was a rebel against both religious and political authority in England, as the two had become one—hence, he and others “dissented” against, and refused to participate in, state-prescribed religion. But it is what lies beneath this dissent that we talked about this morning. “He is as stiff as a tree and as pure as a bell.” This was what… |
A New Series!
New & Victorious series
Who’s Knocking?
I will admit up front I do not remember which of the people we’ve read discussed this issue, but our reading this morning from Jowett and other recent interactions have brought it to mind. The forgotten author was addressing the image of Christ standing at the door and knocking—and the message the church of their time (and since) took from it.
Before we go on, let me say I talk about this image and even have a photo of my mother’s decorative plate with that image on it in Forgotten Hope. It brings back fond memories.
Back to the issue. The problem is not “I stand at the door and knock.” It is what we represent as happening next—or, as the forgotten author said, the imagery created around Christ with that picture. This author took issue with presenting Christ as begging for acceptance and entry, and all the ideas that proceed from that idea… –Read More–
Renew or Anew?
Honestly, this post ran parallel in my mind as I was writing yesterdays post “Who’s Knocking.” While it was clear to me, the urge to combine the two posts did not actually occur. I guess that is the difference between simply writing and actually “listening.” However, this is how all the P.O.C. post series and, actually, The Hope series, came to be.
Renew, “To renovate; to restore to a former state, after decay or depravation; to rebuild; to repair” (Websters1828).
That said, I do understand where we get the idea:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).
This was not, however, an instruction on conversion. In fact, it seems this was an instruction all the apostles felt led to give their disciples: –Read More–
Proudly Profess
After having presented the Forgotten Hope and the process of Forging that Hope, I wrote the last book in the series, Fidelity to Hope. At that point I said what needed to be said… Just Stop It!
Here is how that section begins:
*“Fidelity to Hope demands that we ask the right questions. The problem is, the bulk of those who make the claim of Fidelity do not. As we are in Fidelity to Hope, all of the arguments have been made, so I will just state what should be obvious.
No one gets to heaven by choosing Heaven over Hell. As we made clear at the end of the last chapter, No one gets to heaven by choosing Jesus’s Salvation without Embracing Christ (King) Jesus. You get the idea. So, Just Stop It!”*¹
I don’t just write books, and Bethany doesn’t just do music, we are a ministry of Christ. Therefore, while we write books or do music, we are also, and primarily, spreading the “Good News.” Which is why, after finishing the series, I felt the need to write a prequel. In our outreach we regularly, and sometimes it seems continuously, are confronted with a “Christianity” which rejects the Good News and proclaims something less. Here is an extreme example taken from a social media post: –Read More–
Check out these Lyric and Music videos from Bethany Rae then click on over to the WTS Store and get all 20 of her original releases for yourself!
What’s News
It’s Official!
Pursuit of Character‘s Second Annual Worship Weekend is on the schedule. After reviewing this years Worship Weekend with Gyorgy and Melinda of Salmon Run Campground, we agreed it is worth doing again. As a cross-denominational ministry we were happy to see, and want to thank, the folks from the Seventh Day Adventist church, the Catholic church, the Missionary church, some Non-Dom’s, and others, for your contribution to the multiple forms of Worship at the 2026 Worship Weekend. It was also great to have The Full Belly food truck on site for the weekend! (We hope to see them again in 2027)
In 2027, it is our hope, and prayer, that God will lead others to this annual gathering of the Fellowship of Believers. For details on the 2027 Worship Weekend you can both check out the event on our calendar and monitor the official Worship Weekend page for updates. We humbly ask that you pass the word and encourage those you know to take advantage of this opportunity God is presenting through our ministries, Bethany Rae – Worship Through Song, Revive the Camp Meeting, and Pursuit of Character.
In support of our expanding Discipleship ministry, we at POC have decided to begin opening our Document Library up to you. Along with documentation and data sources you will find our
“Highly Recommended Reading List.”
Click –HERE– to enter the Library
Check it out – Click on the LOGO
The Final Book in The Hope Series is Finished, Available & ready to Ship!
Available only on this P.O.C. website.
The imagery on the cover of Fidelity to Hope represents the life and commitment of every follower of Christ, as defined by Christ and His apostles. Yes, every Christian is the Bride of Christ, both individually and collectively with the other members of His Congregation. The Manual instructs that while we have no choice but to be “IN” the world, as the Bride, we are not to be “OF” that world (John 15:19, 1 Corinthians 5:10). The Manual also describes that world as “darkness,” declaring that “all that is not of God (good or bad) is evil,” and evil is darkness (1 John 1:5-7, Colossians 1:13, Ephesians 5:1-11).
So, the purified Bride on our cover stands “IN” the darkness of the world, not “OF” but separated from that darkness. As the Manual also illustrates, she is “a stranger” to that world (Hebrews 11:13, 1 Peter 2:11). But our Bride does not stand alone or without Hope. Our Bride stands with her gaze fixed on the Bridegroom, the Light, the Truth, the Christ, Jesus, our Hope (John 8:12 and 14:6, 1 Timothy 1:1). To turn her gaze, even for a moment, is an act of infidelity to that same Bridegroom.
This is the life of devotion the entire Hope series was written to expose from our first meeting of the Forgotten Bridegroom and understanding His Offer, through the trials and Forging of the engagement, to a life lived in Fidelity to our Betrothed as we await the day of the marriage feast (Revelation 19:9). This is the purpose of The Hope series and the mission of all we do at Pursuit of Character. To learn more about the symbolism of the images in the cover, read the “About the Cover” section in the book.
Click Here for more details
Now available from Improve Life Publishing to aid you in your going out –CLICK HERE–
Check out Pursuit of Character’s NEW Podcast, “The Olive Tree“. Click on one of the buttons below to watch or listen on your choice of platforms and subscribe to see future episodes released every Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m.
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Because You Asked…
We have had people ask, “How can we support Pursuit of Character’s ministry (give money)?” Our answer has been, “You can’t.” But God has given us a better answer. You still can’t just blindly give to P.O.C. ministries, but… 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.
For more specific information, you can go to our “Going Out Partnering” page –HERE
Our Ministries
We appreciate your support and hope that you will help us get the Word out.
Post Content 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!