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REFLECTIONS
Gospel Moment: 250 Years of Liberty Under God - A Reflection on America’s Freedom
Photo Credit: shastaunfiltered.com As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we remember the foundational truth of our founding: true liberty flows from our Creator. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The founders pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred hono
Rex Ballard
3 days ago2 min read
Gospel Moment: 250 Years of Liberty Under God - A Reflection on America’s Freedom
Photo Credit: shastaunfiltered.com As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we remember the foundational truth of our founding: true liberty flows from our Creator. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The founders pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred hono
Rex Ballard
3 days ago2 min read
Gospel Moment: John's Letter from Seoul
A Korean Brother's Grateful Reminder of America's Gospel Legacy and the Bond of Christian Brotherhood In a time when ingratitude and division often dominate headlines, a simple, heartfelt letter from a husband and father of three in Seoul, South Korea, cuts straight to the heart of what really matters. Shared recently through Dr. Douglas Frank, the letter was read aloud by a man named John. It is not a political statement or a demand. It is a testimony of salvation, sacrifice
Rex Ballard
Jun 264 min read
Gospel Moment: The Hand of God Protects the Unselfish Heart
In the jungles of Vietnam, a Marine leader named Major James Capers faced an impossible moment during a desperate evacuation. His team had been ambushed. He was gravely wounded—shot and struck by shrapnel, with a broken leg—yet he had fought and led his men to the helicopter landing zone. When the overloaded chopper struggled to lift off under enemy fire and with no fuel remaining, Major Capers did something extraordinary: he tried to step off the aircraft. He was willing to
Rex Ballard
Jun 213 min read
Patrick Henry – “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!”
American Patriot Series “Give me liberty, or give me death!” The words thundered through St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, on March 23, 1775. A fiery young orator named Patrick Henry stood before the Second Virginia Convention, his voice rising like a storm. With clenched fists and blazing eyes, he painted a vivid picture of British chains closing around the colonies. The hall fell silent as he delivered one of the most electrifying speeches in American history — a cal
Rex Ballard
Jun 123 min read
This is Shasta County
"Conservative Republicans especially value property rights, individual freedoms, and the beauty of being left alone. They don’t want government to handle everything." Seth Ketshel
The Homey Sage
Jun 81 min read
Shasta Unfiltered Launches New Video Podcast Series: Stories of Faith, Courage, and Legacy in Action
Imagine arriving in the remote jungles of Gabon in 1977 with little more than faith and determination. Dr. Thompson, a skilled surgeon, and Becky, a trained nurse, faced overwhelming odds from day one. They inherited a basic dispensary at Bongolo Hospital. They transformed it into a full-fledged hospital and surgical center capable of handling complex cases in one of the most challenging environments on Earth.
Rex Ballard
Jun 73 min read
Gospel Moment: Honoring the Ultimate Sacrifice on Memorial Day
This Memorial Day, as we gather around grills, parades, and quiet cemetery visits across the North State and our nation, we pause to remember. We honor the men and women in uniform who paid the highest price—not for conquest, but for the preservation of freedom. They gave their lives so that we might live in a land where we can openly worship our God, speak truth, raise our families, and pursue the liberty that flows from the recognition that all men are created equal, endowe
Rex Ballard
May 253 min read
Gospel Moment: When Forgiveness Feels Impossible
The candidates will come and go. Policies will shift. But the heart of the matter is not ultimately left or right—it is above. Proverbs 21:1 reminds us, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” God is not pacing the heavens worried about November.
Rex Ballard
May 113 min read
Gospel Moment: The Piano Playing in Heaven
A few days back, I was driving along a quiet stretch of highway when the opening piano notes of “Blueberry Hill” drifted from the oldies radio station. That unmistakable voice — warm, rolling, full of joy — filled the car, and suddenly I was transported back to New Orleans in 2006. Memories came flooding in like the waters of Hurricane Katrina itself: I can still remember the devastated streets, the smell of rebuilding, and one unforgettable evening that I will carry with me
Rex Ballard
Apr 293 min read
President Trump Leads Historic Call for National Unity and Reformation Under God from the Oval Office
In one of the most powerful moments of his second term, President Donald J. Trump stood in the Oval Office and recited 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 — delivering a clear and bold call for national repentance, unity, and reformation under God. The President’s reading was part of the landmark “America Reads the Bible” marathon, a week-long national event leading up to America’s 250th anniversary. Nearly 500 leaders from faith, government, business, and entertainment participated.
Rex Ballard
Apr 223 min read
Gospel Moment: Trusting God’s Plans When Life Doesn’t Go Our Way
Have you ever made careful plans—only to watch them crumble? Maybe a job fell through, a relationship ended, or health news arrived that left you reeling. In moments like these, the words of Scripture become an anchor for the soul.
The Lord declares in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Notice that God doesn’t say He might have plans—He knows them.
Elisa Ballard
Apr 142 min read
Gospel Moment:
Oh, dear friend, in a world that rewards silence and punishes courage, 24-year-old NBA guard Jaden Ivey stepped boldly into the light on March 30, 2026. Just hours after his heartfelt Instagram live, the Chicago Bulls waived him. With tender conviction, he declared that the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month lifts up what Scripture calls sin, and same-sex relationships stand against God’s beautiful design for holiness.
Rex Ballard
Apr 73 min read
Easter Hope: Love That Unites Us in Turbulent Times
As Easter draws near, many American families sit at kitchen tables wondering how to stretch one more grocery dollar or keep children safe amid headlines of division and unrest. The cost of living climbs, polarization deepens, and worry feels like a constant companion. Yet in the very heart of these struggles, the Easter story offers something the world cannot: unshakable hope rooted in God’s love and the victory of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of John records Jesus’ own words jus
Elisa Ballard
Apr 22 min read
Gospel Moment
Imagine a young woman sitting alone in a quiet room, her hands trembling as she stares at a positive pregnancy test. Fear whispers that she’s not ready, that no one will understand, that her dreams are slipping away. In that moment of deepest vulnerability, God’s heart beats with a love so fierce it refuses to leave her alone.
Rex Ballard
Mar 133 min read
Gospel Moment
Yet, amidst this chaos, we must recognize a deeper truth: we are not merely witnesses to geopolitical strife but participants in an ancient, cosmic battle between the Light of the Lord and the forces of evil on earth. This is no metaphor for the faint-hearted; it is the spiritual reality described in Scripture.
Rex Ballard
Mar 34 min read
Gospel Moment
Gospel Moment - Inspired by Psalms 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”
Rex Ballard
Feb 142 min read
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