October 2026

KEEP IT REAL!

Read this amazing article:
“Not too many years ago, newspapers carried the story of Al Johnson, a Kansas man
who repented, who came to faith in Jesus Christ. What made his story so remarkable
was not his conversion, but the fact that as a result of his newfound faith in Christ, he
confessed to a bank robbery he had participated in when he was nineteen years old!
Because the statute of limitations on the case had run out, Johnson could not be
prosecuted for the offense. But because of his complete and total change of heart,
he not only confessed his crime, he voluntarily repaid his share of the stolen money!
That’s repentance – a radical reconstruction of the heart.”

It’s NOT our profession of faith during Baptism… it’s NOT our purity of heart during
Communion… it’s NOT the personal sacrifice in service of our neighbor that shows
genuine faith and trust in Jesus (although, all those acts of kindness and consecration
are important!) – it IS the transformation of the heart that only comes by grace
through faith in Jesus Christ!

Now, that’s real proof that Christ is born in someone’s heart — a real transformation – a
genuine change from within! It is written, “man looks at the outward appearance but
God looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16). This is the change that we should encourage
and spur one another towards – NOT more religion and religiosity but genuine spiritual
transformation that comes by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Remember, there’s a world out there that needs the message that you have!
A hurting world will listen NOT because you are loud but because you are
authentic! So… Keep it real!

Pastor Vino Atienza