Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

Articles written by Bill Lanes


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  • CONNECTING POINT: The Bottom Line

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Jul 16, 2025

    In the business world, decisions are made constantly based on the “bottom line,” which is often referred to as net income or profit. We also use this phrase to refer to what matters most or in making a final decision regarding various aspects of life. For the follower of Jesus, the bottom line is that we should strive to live unoffendable and be free from anger. Brant Hansen says, “Being unoffendable involves constantly reminding ourselves that we don’t deserve God’s forgiveness- and yet God has chosen to forgive us anyway.” Living by this pers...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Instructions Matter

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Jul 9, 2025

    I’m a “Jack-of-all-trades guy,” or at least attempt to fix or take on projects often, sometimes out of the wish to save money, or even to assist other people. One of my favorite resources is YouTube, where you can find a “how-to” tutorial on almost anything. Sometimes these videos are beneficial, and other times I learn little; it just depends on the presenter. At other times, I rely on instructions, but I’ll admit that there are days when I skip over reading them, dive into the task, fail to understand how something works, and then return...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Injustice in the Streets

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Jul 2, 2025

    We’ve grown accustomed to a litany of cries for injustice, some for honorable causes and others not so honorable. How can a person delineate a true cry for injustice? Does it come down to the colors of the political parties, red or blue? Honestly, I don’t think that’s the proper litmus test. In recent weeks, some so-called “peaceful” protests turned quickly into destruction, anarchy, and chaos. Fortunately, here in Montana, movements were much tamer, but this question of injustice is certainly on people’s minds. Interestingly, the timing of a...

  • CONNECTING POINT: The Domino Effect

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Jun 25, 2025

    The effects of anger are overwhelmingly negative, creating physical, emotional, and spiritual issues. I’ve appreciated sitting with other Christians for several weeks to discuss the myth of righteous anger. We’ve mistakenly bought into this idea that somehow anger is good. Ultimately, discovering that God or Jesus is the only one who can have righteous anger. Too many people go through life holding onto anger and, in return, suffer, often having a domino effect on their personal lives and the relationships surrounding them. What happens whe...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Shocked

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Jun 18, 2025

    I must be honest; there are days when I’m shocked by another person’s behavior. Maybe you’re a bit like me? Life is cruising along, and the day is going well, then suddenly, someone says something or acts in a certain way, and now I’m leaning towards an offense. I certainly don’t live like my heart is on my sleeve all the time; I’m a bit more guarded and hopefully a little more graceful. Yet, those moments arise when someone’s behavior catches me by surprise. Such a “strange” experience. After all, we are human, and we all act human. Brant...

  • CONNECTING POINT: The Badge of Offense

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Jun 11, 2025

    There are certain myths that we somehow learn to accept, and if we aren’t careful, they can take root in our lives and become a reality. Many of which are dangerous, harmful to our relationships, and unbiblical. One specific myth is the notion that we can have righteous anger. Brant Hansen, radio host and author of Unoffendable contends that this notion is incorrect. In life, the opportunity to be offended can occur daily, and some people carry unrighteous anger as if it were a badge of honor, believing it to be righteous anger. A neighbor l...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Suspended in the Moment

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Jun 4, 2025

    In the darkest times, a person’s faith can be challenged. This has long been the case, dating back to Christians in the First Century, especially those difficult days between Christ’s crucifixion and His resurrection. Although Jesus had been teaching and preparing His followers for what was to come, they didn’t quite grasp all that had taken place. As we read the Bible and the prophecies of Jesus regarding His betrayal and death, we can put two and two together; however, we are far removed from the intense emotions and experiences that His f...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Marks of Endurance

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|May 28, 2025

    The Bible provides specific and ample evidence of the incredible challenges Jesus encountered during His life and ministry, demonstrating His loving sacrifice. As humans, most of us admire another person who overcomes and perseveres through life experiences. Seldom are we honestly drawn to those who live carefree or posh lifestyles? This is exactly why Christianity is far different from many world religions; the One who created us came to earth in human form but remained fully God, lived a perfect life, and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our...

  • CONNECTING POINT: The Quest for Signs

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|May 21, 2025

    Throughout history, certain people have clamored for signs regarding the Second Coming of Jesus. Some lean towards honest curiosity, others towards shaky intuitive thinking, which can be problematic. Who better to address the question than Jesus? In Luke 21, we read of this conversation, “Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown d...

  • CONNECTING POINT: The Two-Cent Lesson

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|May 14, 2025

    The subject of wealth and prosperity comes up often in the New Testament. Jesus taught about money and possessions nearly 15% of the time, including the matter in 11 of His 39 parables. As a truthteller, He most often cuts to the motive of an individual’s heart, which reveals that person's character. First-century Jewish society was extremely polarized. The affluent treated the poor harshly, including the religious leaders who were excessively judgmental. Jesus stood up for people of good character. “As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich put...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Can Rocks Cry Out Loud?

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|May 7, 2025

    Christians worldwide just finished celebrating Easter, an event that commemorates the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The central theme of the Bible hinges upon one powerful truth: Jesus came to redeem all of us who are lost in sin by His atoning sacrifice on the cross. We can be seen as righteous through Christ’s accomplished work of the cross and the empty grave. All through a simple act of faith and repentance by placing our trust in Jesus Christ. Is it possible for rocks to cry out loud? This may seem odd, but the theme is seen t...

  • CONNECTING POINT: The Taxman and Jesus

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Apr 30, 2025

    A common sentiment throughout cultures and history is the dreaded visit of a tax agent or tax collection day. In the U.S., April 15 annually is set for income taxes, although hundreds of thousands of businesses file quarterly. There are also strong sentiments on what our government does or does not do with our money as taxpayers. Rather than getting into a tangled mess about taxation, I would like to draw your attention to the streets of Jericho during the first century. A chief tax collector, Zacchaeus, had a life-changing conversation with Je...

  • CONNECTING POINT:L What's Behind Your Prayers?

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Apr 23, 2025

    The subject of prayer never gets old, and the Bible is filled with valuable principles and advice. The pages also discover both exemplary and poor examples of prayer. As readers, we can learn from all this by examining our motives and personal practices about prayer. Luke chapter 18 begins with two parables, but I contend they are interrelated. Over the last two years, I’ve spent considerable time exploring the parables of Jesus as recorded by Luke. I find them powerful, interesting, and insightful. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to s...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Servant Leadership

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Apr 16, 2025

    Discipleship, as taught by Jesus, involves unconventional thinking based on the principle of servant leadership. He lived out His teachings, taking on the attitude and position as servant, even to the point of death, as He laid down His life for us. Jesus's sacrifice as the incarnate God speaks to His nature, character, and love for humanity. Throughout the Bible, Jesus is referred to in many ways: King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Master of the Universe, Creator of everything, all of which speak to His authority and dominion over all creation....

  • CONNECTING POINT: Depths of Discipleship

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Apr 9, 2025

    As Christians, we find ourselves on a journey, from being lost sinners without Jesus to being found and made righteous in Christ. We move from simply a follower of Jesus to a disciple who grows in character, found in personal conduct and our relationships, as we surrender to the Holy Spirit and obey principles in the Bible. No Christian is perfect on this side of eternity; thus, the term journey. In Luke 17, Jesus directs His teaching to the disciples, unlike most previous chapters, where His teachings focus on confronting the Pharisees in...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Who's the Beggar Now?

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Apr 2, 2025

    Throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we see Jesus’s constant use of parables. This was a simple way to teach kingdom principles of God. Most are tangible illustrations of unnamed individuals. However, many true-life experiences are shared by Jesus as they experienced physical healing, forgiveness of sin, and transformative life change. In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus illustrates speaking about Lazarus and the Rich man. At first glance, one may view this as a parable or think of Lazarus as a fictional character, when it is highly probable that J...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Lost & Found

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Mar 19, 2025

    When was the last time you lost something? A common question around our home is, “Where are my keys?” Losing something can be quite distressing, sometimes confounding, when you blame someone else and find the keys in your coat pocket five minutes later. LOL. Jesus’ existence in history was to fulfill God’s ultimate act of love, as Christ gave up His life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Albert Einstein said, “As a child, I received instruction both in the Bible and the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Count the Cost

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Mar 12, 2025

    If you’ve ever built a home or embarked on a major home remodel project, I bet you’ve crunched the financial numbers to see if you can make ends meet. Recently, the cost of goods and services, especially construction supplies, has spiked. One thing is for certain: No one generally sets out to start a project only to abandon it halfway through the process. Sometimes, this occurs either for economic reasons or personal reasons. An interesting example is the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea. in 1987. Construction began as this mag...

  • CONNECTING POINT: God's Timing

    BILL LANES, Whitehall Assembly of God|Mar 5, 2025

    In Luke 13, there are four scenarios, three parables, and one life story to help readers understand God’s timing better. I’ll be the first to admit that there are times when my faith is weak, and I have trouble trusting God’s plans as they unfold. It’s important to recall that chapters in the Bible are interrelated; they are “addresses” that assist us in finding certain passages. Interestingly, Luke 12 brings to our attention the unexpected return of Jesus Christ; we need to be prepared. That theme continues into chapter 13, including t...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Ready or Not

    BILL LANES|Feb 26, 2025

    A burglar broke into a house late one night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables, when a voice in the dark said, ‘Jesus knows you’re here, and he’s coming back.’ He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze. When he heard nothing more, after a bit, he shook his head and continued. Just as he was pillaging through the jewelry box on top of the dresser, clear as a bell, he heard a voice.... saying, ‘Jesus is watching you, and he’s coming.’ Freaked out, he shined his light around frantically,...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Bickering Brothers

    BILL LANES|Feb 19, 2025

    One of the well-known phrases of Jesus, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34), is both powerful and thought-provoking. However, the context is even more revealing if we take the time to understand Christ’s statement. This teaching was sparked by a question from a nearby listener, “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ Jesus replied, ‘Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?’ Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all...

  • CONNECTING POINT: The Fruit of Hypocrisy

    BILL LANES|Feb 12, 2025

    Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous said, “A hypocrite is one who sets good examples only when he has an audience.” This statement mirrored many of Jesus’ warnings centuries ago. He didn’t mince words; He was a truth teller confronting the lies of legalism, which subtly crept into the lives of religious leaders of His day. He taught His disciples to be on guard for hypocrisy. “Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: ‘Be on your guard against the...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Object Lessons

    BILL LANES|Feb 5, 2025

    Jesus was a master teacher who utilized numerous object lessons to help listeners better understand the difference between truth and a lie. In the Bible, light is often equated to truth, while dark is associated with a lie. Jesus also stated that He is “the light of the world” (John 8), signifying He came to reveal the truth and dispel darkness. In Luke, we read these words of Jesus, “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand so that those who come in may see the l...

  • CONNECTING POINT: Pesky Prayers

    BILL LANES|Jan 29, 2025

    The subject of prayer has been discussed and debated for decades. Rather than wading too deep into that minefield, I’m more interested in focusing on Jesus’s teaching on prayer. His authority and perspective matter most. When reading and interpreting Scripture, staying within the context is imperative; twisting Christ’s words happens far too often. Let me give you a prime example, "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who s...

  • CONNECTING POINT: And the Award Goes to...

    BILL LANES|Jan 22, 2025

    In today’s column, I want to introduce you to two sisters, Martha and Mary, also sisters of Lazarus. Most readers are familiar with their life stories, whereas many are unfamiliar with some of the cultural backgrounds involved in these ladies’ lives. Luke gives us a glimpse. “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made...

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