LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 2/16/26

Do this in remembrance of me

Last week, we touched on the subject of baptism, and this week I thought we could follow up with a chat about communion. For those who are Christians, the church ordinance of communion is a sacred and spiritually personal event. In some circles, the Lord’s Supper is referred to as a sacrament, while others call it an ordinance, depending on the theological tradition. However, regardless of the term, within Christian churches, it is seen as a means of grace and an integral part of obedience and worship, established by Christ Himself. A time of sacred reflection on Christ’s death and resurrection. Where does it come from? It’s a recorded true event that is told in each of the four Gospels, along with the Apostle Paul, who also discusses it in 1 Corinthians 11:23-29. Verse 26 declares, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

Most have seen the images of what is called the “Last Supper,” where Jesus and His disciples are sitting around a large table eating and drinking at what was called the Passover celebration. We read in all four gospels about this true account, and how Jesus wanted His followers to remember Him as the promised Lamb of God. In Luke 22:19-21, we read, “Jesus took a loaf of bread and gave thanks to God. As He broke it and gave it to His disciples, He said, this is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you.” Matthew 26:30 reveals that He concluded the meal by singing a hymn, then they walked out into the night to the Mount of Olives. As they entered the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told them to rest while he took some time to pray. It was there that, as predicted, Jesus was betrayed by Judas. The following day, He was crucified.

Jesus declared that the bread spoke of His body that would be broken, as Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 describe that He would be so brutally and violently tortured that it was hardly recognizable. The wine spoke of His blood, with Him indicating the terrible death He would soon experience. It is agreed that most likely He literally bled to death. Christ, the perfect Lamb, the Son of God, became the fulfillment of the countless Old Testament prophecies concerning a Redeemer. Genesis 3:15, often called the protoevangelium or first gospel, is an amazing biblical prophecy where God reveals that at the crucifixion, the serpent will bruise the heel of Jesus the seed of the woman, but in the resurrection, Christ the Son of God will crush the serpents head, establishing the Lord as the ultimate power and authority in the cosmic struggle between good and evil. In my view, the communion does not literally transform into the blood and flesh of Jesus, which is called transubstantiation. Since it is symbolic, I do see the point. It’s simply about keeping the sacrifice of His great love fresh within our hearts and minds.

So, as we partake of the unleavened bread and wine or grape juice, the elements serve as a covenant symbol of Christ’s body and blood, and how we grieve as He willingly suffered. He gave the supreme sacrifice of love that can redeem us. Now we can have spiritual hope and faith, as we celebrate this sign of unity and truth among believers, anticipating His return. I’ve served communion in churches, prisons, and correctional facilities throughout the years, and I currently work with a jail ministry preaching the gospel, baptizing, and serving communion, where I remind everyone how serious this is. First Corinthians chapter 11 says that whoever receives these elements unworthily will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. They absorbed damnation to themselves, and some have literally died. Never allow the ceremony to become a dead and formal ritual, or come to the Lord’s table with unconfessed sin. Personally, when I take the communion, I embrace this as entering into the holy presence of God. A time and place of repentance, asking forgiveness, being cleansed, and made presentable to become one with Him. I imagine Jesus hanging on the cross, and what great love that caused Him to willingly die to save me. It’s a personal moment of remembering and appreciating.

Dr. Holland is a licensed and ordained minister, a certified chaplain and teacher, and a Christian author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 2/9/26

Believer’s baptism or baptismal regeneration?

Believer’s baptism and baptismal regeneration represent two distinct views on the role of water baptism in salvation. Believer’s baptism holds that baptism is an outward, symbolic act of obedience performed “after” a person has consciously trusted in Jesus Christ and His blood for salvation. Conversely, baptismal regeneration teaches that baptism is the sacramental law where God creates spiritual rebirth, forgives sins, and initiates spiritual regeneration. While I tend to avoid writing about church doctrines due to disagreements, my ministry requires me to share my personal interpretations. I’m often asked about what washes away our sins, the water or the blood? There is power in His blood – not the water.

I share the gospel often, including in our local Detention Center on a regular basis. A place to teach and baptize is provided, and our team also serves communion to the new converts. This gives us an open opportunity to explain what it means to confess receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. Sadly, not all Christians are united with church doctrines such as immersion versus sprinkling, infant baptism, and baptizing in the name of Jesus versus in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but even more importantly, there are different opinions about what exactly happens when the person goes under the water.

Some churches, including Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Churches of Christ, and some Anglican and Episcopal churches, including the Mormons, and Jehovah’s Witnesses, believe in what is called baptismal regeneration, which means a person is not cleansed from sin or spiritually transformed into a new creation in Christ until after they are baptized. Within these churches, baptism is referred to as a requirement that defines water as the only way to literally receive God’s grace, which saves. Groups such as Baptist, Church of God, Assembly of God, Reformed Presbyterian, Non-Denominational, Evangelical, Anabaptists, Mennonites, Quakers, Puritans, and The Salvation Army, use the term “ordinance” meaning that baptism although an important act of obedience, is only a public testimony symbolizing God’s power that has already forgiven and transformed the spirit’s of those who called upon the name of the Lord to save them, according to John 3:16.

As we are immersed under the water, this displays the spiritual reality of how we died to ourselves, were buried with Christ, and in coming up out of the water, we are raised from the dead by the glorious power of God to walk holy and obey Him in everything as His child. An outward sign of an inward work. Since we have been united with him in his death, we are also raised to life as He was. Yes, we are forgiven and washed clean by the blood of Jesus, as the power of sin is broken, and our carnality was crucified with Christ. As no longer slaves to sin, the new Christian is declared righteous through Jesus, but still has the free will responsibility to demonstrate His holy nature and character. We should consider ourselves to be dead to the control of sin and to have faith in God for everything. Take a moment to read Romans chapter 6. In fact, as we develop a solemn, reverential fear and awareness of His presence, sin should literally make us nauseated as we realize how much our disobedience hurts Him. If our intentional sins do not cause brokenness, weeping, and deep sorrow, we have become spiritually numb, calloused, and deceived. However, with God’s grace and mercy, our spiritual determination to deny our flesh and walk in sanctification can be rekindled by returning to our first love.

Baptism is not just a religious ritual. It’s a deeply personal commitment to living the life this holy re-enactment is revealing. It represents death to sin, the burial of our old life, and the resurrection to a new life in Christ! We are confessing and professing that Jesus is our Lord, and the miracle of being born again. We receive the gift of God’s love by declaring to the world that we are completely dedicated to loving and serving our Master. The believer’s baptism is an open display and promise that we will fulfill our vow to never return to who we once were. We now promise to allow God to lead us, we have become a temple of the Holy Spirit and are filled with the marvelous light of His eternal truth. Jesus died and resurrected so that you could become a member of His everlasting kingdom of peace and joy. Will you respond to His voice today?

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 2/2/2026

The Spiritual Battle For Our Attention

Let’s consider tracking how we spend our time in a typical 24-day period. Sleeping and working naturally take up most of it, followed by household tasks and hobbies, and finally, entertainment. Recently, I heard someone point out a troubling contrast: for Christians, spending more time on television or social media than on Bible study, prayer, or ministry seems out of balance. We often hear about the spiritual battle for our minds, but do our choices reflect the seriousness of this struggle? Though I’m involved with ministries and activities, I must ask myself whether I’m still allowing these daily distractions to consume too much of my focus. Do I believe there is such a thing as having a balance with my busy schedule of helping others versus how much time I spend watching and being conformed to the world? The essential question is whether our attention is fully turned toward God, or if we are trying to justify and play both sides as we indulge in meaningless distractions. Can you sense Jesus prompting you to re-examine your priorities?

Our grandson is a normal first grader who loves to play with Legos and all things related to Mario and Sonic. But he also has a strong connection to Minecraft computer games. He spends a lot of time on his switch, and becomes so deeply involved that it seems he loses contact with what’s going on around him. To even mention taking a break causes him to become upset. I was convicted about this the other day, and realized I would be the same way if someone took my television, computer, and cell phone away. Have we literally fallen in love with entertainment? Could this addiction be associated with a type of idol worship? The devices are not evil in themselves; they are just tools, but anything that captures our hearts receives our highest devotion. Romans 6:16 talks about the deception of slavery. “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you become a slave to them, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”

I admit, I enjoy the internet, and browse as I relax and watch television, as I suppose most everyone else does. I have my phone with me at all times, as it’s now become a part of my life. I’m still astounded by the technology of a satellite beaming a video and audio signal to my big screen, and me having access on a handheld device that can produce information about anything I can imagine. Should we be concerned that Satan is the prince and power of the airwaves? Why am I not more obsessed with Colossians 3:1-2? “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Is it not disturbing that we have become obsessed with our technology devices? Are we being distracted away from God? When was the last time we turned everything off for a week? Could we do it? If the enemy can distract you from your time alone with God, then he can isolate you from the help that comes from God alone. Be encouraged as you read Ephesians chapter 5:6-21.

What did people do before technology? I know: they talked to each other. Today, many are sadly developing an illusion that Facebook likes, or even shaking hands with our acquaintances, is a substitute for love. Some believe long-distance acknowledgments protect us from the demands and concerns of close relationships. We want to be loved, but some build walls around themselves to avoid the entanglements of sincerely caring for others. True connection requires authenticity, mutual respect, and vulnerability, as we allow others to help us understand how to love and how to be loved. Sherry Turkle, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has spent the last 15 years studying how our “plugged-in lives” are changing who we are. She claims that our technological devices have produced a world in which we’re constantly communicating, while meaningful conversations are deteriorating. Many accept that reading or listening to what others say, and indicating they agree, is the same as knowing someone personally. Hiding behind a screen can become a twisted sense of security as we observe society from the realm of our private isolation, and even more serious: Can this also be used to hide from God?

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 1/26/26

Would changing the past make our lives better?

One of the popular age-old thoughts within the human imagination is what we would change if we could go back in time. Would making different decisions help us and others today? Many people have regrets over poor decisions and wonder what they could have prevented or created if they could go back. Of course, this would only work if we had the knowledge we now possess. Some choices involved just ourselves, and no doubt it altered our lives. But how? Guilt and regret are a part of blaming ourselves, while other events were beyond our control. Then some disappointments come as a normal part of life. We could continue with examples, but whatever the case (and each one is unique), we can learn from mistakes and use the past to help us secure a better future.

Allow me to ask: If you could go back in time, knowing what you know now, would you do things differently to fix past mistakes? Do you truly think changing the past would improve your life and the lives of those you love? I was young once and saw life very differently than I do now. So, how can we be sure our changes would help? Today, I place education and living for God as a much higher priority than I did as a teen or in my twenties. I made significant mistakes from poor choices and rarely considered long-term consequences. I look back, and I’m grateful the Lord was gracious and most likely protected me from my own youthful errors more than I will ever know. “History, despite its pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again,” Maya Angelou.

I’m reminded of the song by Garth Brooks that talks about thanking God for unanswered prayers. It’s evident that we often do not really know how to pray. I heard someone say recently that they did not pray to ask God for things; they prayed to know what He wanted. This makes you think about how much a part our free will plays versus God’s will. Remember, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane said, “Not my will, but thine be done.” We know that He allows us to make choices, but we cannot deny the fact that He knows everything before it happens, as Matthew 6:8 says, “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” We also accept that since He is the only one who can see the future, He has the power to prevent or allow our decisions. If He wants to stop us, He can, and if He wants to allow things to happen, He does. In this light, we see that we have freedom to choose, but as the Supreme Judge, He has the final word.

I’m sure that God would be the first one to say He’s disappointed with a lot of our choices, but He also understands better than anyone how difficult it is for us to harness our emotions. We watched a series recently about a man who found a time portal to the year 1960. He could step back to this year and spend as long as he wanted there, and use the same location to come back through the portal to the present. He started thinking that it was his duty to go back and try to stop President John Kennedy, who was assassinated on 11/23/63. He read every tiny detail about what happened that day, then went into the portal and prepared for 3 years. On November 23, he found Lee Harvey Oswald on the sixth floor of the Texas Book Depository building, they struggled, and he killed Oswald before he could fire the rifle. The future was changed.

Of course, it seemed like a great idea, and while you’re watching the motorcade on Elm Street drive safely away from Dealey Plaza, you are relieved that the deadly ambush was prevented. The police arrived on the scene and arrested our guy until they could figure out what happened, and he was later released as a hero. However, when he returns to the present, he does not recognize the world he once lived in. The entire planet lay in ruins as supposedly Kennedy turned into a vicious dictator and a nuclear holocaust destroyed everything. Our man is shocked to realize that he made a horrible decision that killed billions. So, can we consider that changing the past might not always turn out exactly like we think?

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, teacher, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 1/19/26

Having faith in God or the world?

Whatever we are concerned about today, faith and discernment are key components of our prayers. Without spiritual sensitivity, we do not understand God’s plans, which is why seeking Him empowers and activates our communication with Him. We believe in miracles because we know that God listens and is the only one who has the authority to restore and provide for us. If someone is having a health crisis, the Bible declares that He is the Great Physician and our healer. This is an exciting truth until doubt and fear sneak through the back door, and Satan repeats the same strategy to deceive as he did with Adam and Eve in the garden. His favorite temptation is to sow seeds of uncertainty and fear in our minds, causing us to question whether faith is real or just an illusion. In our times of trouble, we are bombarded with opinions, but we must become unmovable in knowing that God’s promises cannot fail.

Josh Christmas once said, “I do not believe what I see, but I see what I believe.” This means that followers of God are not to place their trust in speculations or how things appear to our natural senses. Since we are filled and guided by God’s Spirit, we place our spiritual confidence in Him alone. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, which means the answers are ready to be manifested, but conditional on our knowing and believing with our hearts. For example, when a doctor says there is no hope, we must realize that a human diagnosis is not more powerful than God’s final word. Doctors practice medicine, but God is the healer. Our daughter and our daughter-in-law were both told by the experts that they would never have a child. This was not true as the Lord had other plans. Today, our daughter-in-law has three amazing children, and our daughter has a beautiful baby girl. My wife and I prayed about this for years and believe that nothing is impossible with God, Luke 1:37.

When Lazarus was dead for four days, Jesus told the people to remove him from his tomb and unwrap his grave garments. His body was starting to smell, and according to natural thinking, this was disrespectful and even insane. However, they did not understand the power of God. Christ commanded Lazarus to live again, and he did! Ezekiel describes a valley of dry bones, and God asks the prophet if he believes the bones could live. He told Ezekiel to speak to the bones in faith, and the flesh came back upon them, and they were restored to life. The reason these stories are recorded is to teach us the importance of spiritual discernment when it comes to hearing God’s voice and knowing His will. Christians are to live with an expectation of the supernatural and to walk in the constant awareness of God’s presence as they trust and obey His instructions. My latest book about healing and miracles contains recent accounts of God miraculously intervening, as Hebrews 13:8 promises that Jesus never changes.

Many people build their worldviews on what they have been told instead of researching for themselves. Beware of listening and seeking the world’s opinions more than learning to know God as true truth. Remember, what we believe becomes our reality. If we absorb what an unbelieving culture tells us, we are vulnerable to being brainwashed and conformed to negativity and doubt. Who do you suppose decides what is truth and what is censored as disinformation in our society? Satan is the father of all lies and never stops influencing chaos and confusion.

Our decision to seek God and know what He is saying, versus accepting the report of natural opinions, is the difference between thinking clearly and falling into a delusion. Every moment we are faced with the choice to absorb the light and life of God, or the deception and hopelessness of a blind and fallen world. You see, faith is not limited to only being associated with positive thinking; it can also be the driving force behind negative attitudes. If we are convinced to accept the worst, we are joining forces with dark energy that will make the problem worse. Unbelief is enmity toward God, Hebrews 3:12-13, Ephesians 4:18. We are not be conformed to the persuasions of carnality, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind in Christ, which means we know that God is who He says He is.

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 1/12/26

There is no substitute for perseverance

When it comes to finding our place in this world, let’s consider two categories. The first one, let’s call “floating down the river.” Imagine someone napping in a small boat without a compass or a paddle and not caring about where they are going. Having a spectator mentality, they have yet to understand the importance of having an intentional direction and instead settle for just hoping for the best. They are comfortable with what they do not know and believe that everything will somehow be alright. Our second way of thinking involves listening and developing an awareness of our personal accountability to ourselves, those around us, and, of course, God, the one who made us. Until we embrace the reality that He has a specific meaning and purpose for our lives, we will not fulfill our potential.

As a substitute teacher, I have the honor to help children learn, and while in this position, I observe different types of personalities and attitudes. I notice that those who are eager to absorb knowledge and excel are enthusiastic about all subjects. I believe when kids are encouraged at home, and education is a priority, this transfers over to the student as it opens their eyes to encouraging possibilities and opportunities. On the other hand, when children are looking out the window and doodling on their papers instead of answering the questions, it seems they are not only bored with the subject matter, but have made a mental decision to refuse to learn. Do some have a resistance to change because they are afraid of failing?

Being a minister, I also volunteer at our local detention center a couple of times a month, where I speak to the inmates about God and the Christian life. For those who ask God to intervene, and agree to let go of their ways, our team will baptize and serve them communion, and try to help them all we can. I’ve heard some heartbreaking stories from these individuals, and often, they testify about having a hard life at home when they were kids. They lost interest in school, started running with a bad crowd, and it’s been a downhill slide ever since. Some admit they are on the bottom, with terrible personal problems, and have burned every bridge, but of course, it’s never too late to ask for God’s help.

God’s love encourages and motivates us, but another aspect of success is to realize there are certain conditions and responsibilities on our part for His plan to be fully activated. It will require surrendering our will to him. You see, with God being the Potter and us being the clay, it’s critical to accept the fact that we do not conveniently add God to the plans we already have, but rather we must allow Him to transform us into His brand new creation. One of the basic attitudes I see all the time is “I don’t care.” So what makes people rise from the ashes of apathy, rebellion, and discouragement? Well, personal change is not easy, and anyone who advertises how wonderful it is to sacrifice, suffer, and step into a lifestyle completely opposite to their comfort zone is not being honest. There’s nothing wrong with reading books about how others have conquered their demons, but even if someone understands what it will take, this does not automatically mean they will do it.

Sadly, many are only trying to survive today, without a desire to plan for tomorrow. If you’ve ever tried to help someone find their direction, you understand when I say we cannot force anyone to do anything, especially those who are not willing to help themselves. In every area of life, the ones who desire a healthy state of being must comprehend the truth about their own responsibilities and be willing to do something about it. Beyond the motivational seminars, the Bible studies, and achievement formulas, it will take a personal revelation, an enlightenment of the mind and soul, to have faith in ourselves the way God has hope in us. Whether we are young or old, being an overcomer requires seeking, praying, and working, and living in denial and blaming everyone for our problems only makes it worse. I have compassion for those whose parents failed them and know those who still struggle from neglect. Life has always seemed like a huge mountain that was impossible to climb. There is no substitute for perseverance, as it’s true, “We cannot lower the mountain, therefore we must elevate ourselves.”

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com.

LIVING ON PURPOSE

Published 1/5/26

Is knowing and obeying God important to us?

At this time of year, we begin planning our intentions, as January marks a new beginning and is the ideal opportunity to implement physical, emotional, and spiritual lifestyle changes. CS Lewis is quoted, “You are never too old to set another goal, or dream a new dream.” You notice I used the word developing, because whatever our goals, including drawing closer to God, is a process like losing weight, exercising, or any other vision we are focused on. For example, eating a salad today and resisting the pie is not going to automatically make us skinny, but it’s a positive first step. Likewise, being determined to succeed is how we become more aware of God’s voice. Are we spiritually in control of how we speak and act, or do our carnal emotions control us? Are we seeking the easy way to solve our problems, or a lifestyle change that surrenders our thoughts over to God’s will?

One of our most powerful vows would be to dedicate time each day to prayer and meditation. If we are serious about personal transformation, we will seek God’s help to guide us in the things we know we need to do, or that we need to stop doing. For example, I heard someone say the other day that if a person is serious about conquering bad eating habits, they would ask God to help adjust their cravings. I agree, but what if the love of food is more powerful than their desire to become healthy? What if the person does not really want to surrender this powerful addiction? What if a person loves money, pornography, being lazy, selfish, abusive, or smoking, or alcohol, more than they care about what God thinks? Until the desire to change becomes more important than staying the same, our visions are nothing more than dreams. When the mind changes, the deeds and actions of the body will follow. No matter what people say, our body is God’s temple, and the way we treat it is very important to Him.

Do you believe that if we asked God to deliver us from our weaknesses, He would get involved? What if we sincerely asked the Lord that for every time we lusted to do something we know is a sinful negative behavior, that He would make us nauseated? Too extreme, you might say? I believe this is how desperate we must become in order to break free from the chains that hold us in spiritual and mental bondage. Let’s go ahead and try it, I dare us. The reverential fear of God includes having an awareness of His authority. Do we care that when we defy Him and allow sin to govern our lives, we are hurting Him? Do we care what He thinks or how much He’s concerned about our wrong decisions? How much do we meditate on the reverential fear of God, and the price He paid to redeem us from an eternal death?

Spiritual obedience to God and accomplishing His desires come from the inside out. To change what is on the outside, we must first rearrange what is on the inside. When Christ is invited to sit on the throne of our hearts to be the King and Master of our lives, only then can we comprehend what it means to take up our cross and follow Him. The refiner’s fire is not just a religious slogan; it is a requirement to comprehend the difference between a religious masquerade and a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. His salvation is not just Him being a Savior; this heavenly concept is founded on His desire to become our Lord. The question we are faced with is do we really want to be a living sacrifice for Him? (Read Romans 12:1-2).

Our lives are filled with as many distractions as we allow, and we can be as filled and as close to God as we want. We are servants to whom we obey, Romans 6:16. How bad do we want God? Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Romans 8:31 declares, “What then shall we say of these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Well, we know the devil is against us, but at the end of the day, our free will to choose is the only thing that can prevent what Christ died for us to be.

Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about the Christian life at Billyhollandministries.com.