Power vs the Cross

 Every day we watch it unfold and seem stunned and surprised by the brazenness, the arrogance, the vanity, the cruelty. 

But American evangelicalism’s intoxication with power began long before this. Honestly, I’m more surprised when I see displays of humility. 

I’ve been working with these dynamics for more than two decades, mostly among church leaders. For as much progress as I thought we made, I’ve seen a doubling down for the sake of power, persona, platform, patriotism. We’re addicts not yet ready to take the first step - the freeing first step of confessing our powerlessness and neediness. The first step of humility. 

The reckoning is taking longer and is far messier than I and many I am connected to imagined. We hoped that we’d be humbled by now…that we’d stand aghast at what we’d created and enabled, and repent, with deep grief and sorrow for what we had become. 

But we’re entangled in the idolatrous grip of nationalism, and too enamored with the faux-power and pseudo-supremacy it’s offering right now to see the costly sacrifices it demands… even how it’s hollowing out our very souls. It’s taking longer, and it seems to be getting darker. The daily public displays - even the AI generated visions of a New Babylon with its gold statue of the hoped for new Nebuchadnezzar - only seem to humor and embolden the intoxicated. Mercy. 

I don’t know much, but what I do know is that the way forward is not by matching power with power, but by following the crucified One. That is the path of tears, the path of solidarity with the lowly, the path of humility. 

Blessed are those who come to the end of themselves. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the hungry and thirsty for justice. 

This is the way. Stay hungry and thirsty, my friends. 

Chuck DeGroat

The Bible Doesn’t blink

 The Bible doesn’t blink: brilliance unyoked is a blade in the dark. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48, KJV). They’ve got the brains, the covenant, the oath—and they’ve pawned it for Caesar’s silver again. 

The world smells it. Hates it. From medieval bloodbaths to Hitler’s ash piles, Jews have been the whipping boy for every tyrant’s tantrum. Today? They’re the bankers tanking your savings, the smut-lords drowning your kids in digital sewage. Pitchforks are rattling—again. 

God’s Bloody Chessboard 

Here’s the ugly twist: God’s rigging this slaughterhouse. “Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in” (Rom. 11:25, KJV). He’s letting them stack the chips—banks, filth, power—knowing the table flips when the pot’s full. Zechariah 12:9-10 (KJV) lays it bare: “All nations” gang up on Jerusalem, a global beatdown, then—crack—God crashes in. “They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn.” The Jews don’t get torched; they get torn open and redeemed. 

This ain’t hate—it’s God’s word. He’s not shredding Abraham’s deal (Gen. 12:3, KJV). He’s smashing them to remake them. Weakness, sickness, death—1 Corinthians 11:32’s rod on a cosmic scale: “chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (1 Cor. 11:32, KJV). The church isn’t their replacement; we’re the opening band. When the lights dim, they’ll face their King, wounds blazing. 

The Mirror We Don’t Want 

Don’t grin, Christian. You’re no prize. Jews ditched Christ for Caesar; we swap Him for TikTok and feel-good pulpits. They run banks and porn dens; we bankroll them with our scrolling and shrugs. God’s flogging them with history’s whip—us with laziness’ slow bleed. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith,” Paul barked (2 Cor. 13:5, KJV). They’re blind by God’s hand; we’re blind by our own dumb choice. 

The Jewish Question ain’t just their mess—it’s ours. A people picked, fallen, still clutched in a fist that won’t let go. God’s game is long, and the board’s drenched red. 

1 John 22

 I used to doubt whether I was really a true believer in Christ. Was I truly following Him?  Many days k didn’t feel like I was, burdened with guilt and self condemnation. I wondered if I’d deny Christ, like Peter, if pushed into a corner. But I’m learning that character change is a key mark of maturity and growth. Inner character qualities of peace, hope and joy are Mike markers to growth as we lean in, depending on our Lord. I cannot control what I can’t, giving me a deeper opportunity to pray more and depend on Him. 

“Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.” - Frederick Buechner

“First John 2:28 and 29 are a bridge from the fellowship section into the sonship section (“born of God”); in these verses John used three words that ought to encourage us to live in fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.

1. Abide. You abide in Christ by believing the truth, obeying the truth, and loving other Christians—“the brethren.” Obedience—love—truth. If you are a believer and find yourself out of fellowship with God, it is because you have disobeyed His Word, lacked love for a brother, or believed a lie. The solution is to confess your sin instantly and to claim God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
2. Appear. This is the first mention in this epistle of the promised return of Christ. The book of Revelation deals in detail with future events.”

3. Ashamed. Some Christians will be “ashamed before him at his coming” (1 John 2:28). All believers are “accepted,” but there is a difference between being “accepted” and being “acceptable.” A disobedient child who goes out and gets dirty will be accepted when he comes home, but he will not be treated as though he were acceptable. “Therefore also we have as our ambition … to be pleasing to Him” (2 Cor. 5:9 NASB).” - Excerpt, Be Real (1 John) by Warren W. Wiersbe

1 John 21

 Do you feel overwhelmed with discerning what is truth and what false teaching is?  One of my problems is trying to stay on top of the news or trying to read up on what is happening with a half truth. Gaslighting and manipulating facts to support an agenda seem to be the norm. To counter my overwhelmed mY thinking, I’m trying to focus on reading  news article through the lens of Scripture. If an author or speaker is not promoting the Lordship of Christ in all things, I’m becoming suspicious of their agenda.  Many people in the public arena are in it for themselves, manipulating the facts. On the other hand, I do not want to be sarcastic and negative on everything. I’m trying to keep in mind that God is putting all things into place for His return.

“We often say that the perpetrator was living a double life. I often call it the “quadruple life,” however. There is the public self we present to the world, the private self we share selectively with others, the blind self that is clear to others but which reminds hidden to us, and the undiscovered self which, like the shadow, contains unseen and unconscious aspects of ourselves.” - Chuck DeGroat, When Narcissism Comes to Church

“There is a difference between deliberate deception and spiritual ignorance. When Apollos preached in the synagogue at Ephesus, his message was correct as far as it went, but it was not complete. Priscilla and Aquila, two mature believers in the congregation, took him aside privately and instructed him in the full message of Christ (Acts 18:24–28). A Christian who spends time daily in the Bible and in prayer will walk in the Spirit and have the discernment he needs.” - Excerpt, Be Real (1 John) by Warren W. Wiersbe

1 John 20

 I can think of several off beat half truths that have been taught in my life. It seems like I’m continually unraveling something from my thinking as I read more of Scripture and have people I trust to talk it all out. The evil forces in our world are skilled at finding ways to undermine our complete confidence in our Triune God. The tricks and schemes are probably the same ones used with Adam and Eve - you can’t really trust God….you deserve more…do it anyway… who cares?  But John’s words are impactful today just as when he wrote them. 

“We pray not to recharge our batteries for the business of getting back to the concerns of daily life, but rather to be transformed by God so that the myths and fictions of our life might fall like broken shackles from our wrists.

Chuck DeGroat, Wholeheartedness

“Satan is not an originator; he is a counterfeiter. He imitates the work of God. For example, Satan has counterfeit “ministers” (2 Cor. 11:13–15) who preach a counterfeit gospel (Gal. 1:6–12) that produces counterfeit Christians (John 8:43–44) who depend on a counterfeit righteousness (Rom. 10:1–10). In the parable of the tares (Matt. 13:24–30, 36–43), Jesus and Satan are pictured as sowers. Jesus sows the true seed, the children of God, but Satan sows “the children of the wicked one.” The two kinds of plants, while growing, look so much alike that the servants could not tell the difference until the fruit appeared! Satan’s chief stratagem during this age is to plant the counterfeit wherever Christ plants the true. And it is important that you be able to detect the counterfeit and separate the teachings of Christ from the false teachings of antichrist.” - Excerpt, Be Real (1 John) by Warren W. Wiersbe

1 John 19

 Have you sensed the increased popularity of believing what isn’t in the Bible?  I’m open to discussion but I do not believe Scripture says we become angels when we die, which is heard at many funerals and printed in books. Another growing idea is that the Jesus’s kingdom should be forced on everyone, regardless of their mindset. Another idea is that if you pray hard enough, you’re guaranteed to be healthy, wealthy and wise.  The urgency to know truth is just as important today as when John wrote his letters to the churches. Half truths can disillusion and destroy. But acquiring wisdom and living in God’s presence will bring the kingdom riches of joy, peace, patience and kindness regardless of our circumstances. 

“We remember to change the oil in our cars, change the filters in our water dispensers, and change the bag on our vacuums, but we neglect the work of inner housecleaning. We’re unfamiliar with the vast territory of our hearts.” - Chuck DeGroat, Falling into Goodness

“If false teachers were content to enjoy themselves in their own meetings, it would be bad enough; the tragedy is that they try earnestly to convert others to their anti-Christian doctrines and half truths. This is the third mark of a man who has turned away from God’s truth.” - Excerpt, Be Real (1 John) by Warren W. Wiersbe

God’s plans vs my plans

 LIFE-CHANGING FOR ME

"Jesus you are going to be very busy today...would it be ok if I journey with you today?" For the past decade or so, before I get out of bed most mornings, I pray these words as a spiritual discipline of intent and devotion. It has been life changing. Why? Because for too many years my first thought often was much more like this, "Lord, I've got a lot of plans for today. Would you bless my plans and by the way, please let me not have any problems today!!!" 

Lol... can you relate? 

I'm slowly learning to discern where God is working (John 5:17) and jump into the middle of what He is doing. His plans are sometimes uncomfortable, unpredictable and even messy but I'm learning His plans are always better than my plans. I'm betting the farm on God today... how about you?

Michael Sprague

1 John 18

 I worry about the false teachers that ‘could’ lead my grandkids away from the truth of the Bible. I’ve had voices in my life that were anything but close to the truth. But I’m encouraged to see a new generation rising that have a passion for solid truth. We have so many resources today to help us become mature in our faith, all with an easy access on our phone or computer. It’s amazing what we can learn if we have a sssire to pursue the truth. Perhaps we live at the most exciting point in human history as we see people coming to faith in Christ throughout the world, and the communication of the gospel crossing boundaries never thought possible. Who knows what we will see happen in the next few years. 

“We need someone who helps us to distinguish between the voice of God and all the other voices coming from our own confusion or from dark powers far beyond our control. We need someone who encourages us when we are tempted to give it all up, to forget it all, and to just walk away in despair. We need someone who cautions us when we move too rashly in unclear directions or hurry proudly toward a nebulous goal. We need someone who can suggest to us when to read and when to be silent, which words to reflect upon, and what to do when silence creates much fear and little peace.” - Excerpt, Spiritual Direction by Henri J. M. Nouwen

“False teachers will often say, “We worship the Father. We believe in God the Father, even though we disagree with you about Jesus Christ.

But to deny the Son means to deny the Father also. You cannot separate the Father and the Son, since both are one God. Jesus said, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). He also made it clear that true believers honor both the Father and the Son: “That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him” (5:23). If you say you “worship one God” but leave Jesus Christ out of your worship, you are not worshipping as a true Christian.” - Excerpt, Be Real (1 John) by Warren W. Wiersbe

1 John 17

 My Grandad used to repeat the phrase “God helps those who help themselves.”  When I was in high school, I always thought that statement did not reflect what the Bible taught. That phrase has morphed into a thousand versions, like Deepak Chopra’s “Centering yourself” mindset. It seems to be morphing into politics as well. But searching for God’s kingdom and His righteousness is a radical subversive surrender to the King of kings, presidents, prime ministers and dictators. It is leaving behind the self addicting dependence to illusions of power, possession, prestige, and pursuit of pleasure. Our Triune God will NEVER leave us or forsake us, no matter what life throws at us. 

“Whether the lie comes from the serpent or a marketer, we are invited to chase: Chase love. Chase soothing. Chase acceptance. Chase achievement. Chase recognition. Chase numbness. Chase certainty. Chase perfection. I even have a little plastic card in my wallet with the words “Chase Freedom.” The reality is, it’s not a one-off addiction that we’re dealing with; it’s a whole way of living. We are immersed in an exhausting chase after those basic needs to feel safe, seen, soothed, and secure. The lie is that it’s out there, the fruit on a tree, the bonus in your checking account, the seductive glance of the person sitting across from you in the coffee shop, the adrenaline hit of a well-timed truth bomb on social media.” - Chuck DeGroat, Healing What’s Within

After 27 years of cruel mistreatment in South African prisons, Nelson Mandela said, “As I walked out the door to the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew that if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”

Selfinflicted bitterness

 After 27 years of cruel mistreatment in South African prisons, Nelson Mandela said, “As I walked out the door to the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew that if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”

Bitterness and hatred lock people in their own dark prison. It’s a place without real love, without mercy. It makes life a dead end game of constant hurt and retribution. Being bitter can be accompanied by a number of triggers that spiral into depression and isolation. 

What has caused my resentments?  Am I really bitter?  My list is probably long as I wake up out of my fog.  I realize that the way I grew up is not the way it should have been. Abiding by The Bible’ rules was a half truth, not that my church was any different than others. Does anyone know better than what they were taught?  We goof up and make mistakes throughout life developing unhealthy practices. But the more habitual we are to His presence, we keep a short account of our sins.  We cannot go back and make everything right from the past. Even though we forgive, we do not have to allow that same person and memory to control us.  We can be chained to the past, ina  prison of resentment and bitter memories, allowing our pain to be our identity.  Peter denied Jesus three times and fell asleep when asked to pray.  Yet Jesus restored him, changing his name from soft Simon to Peter the Rock  (John 18:15-27; 21:-5-  How can my pain, my past, my struggles be used for good?  I can continue to be angry, hurt, negative, filled with cynicism, and sarcastic, all the while ruining what the good and beautiful in relationships could be.  We are all infants in our maturity.  We are like new norms that need to be picked up and held, encouraged, that we are His beloved.  Our emotions can be all over the place, depending on the events.  We can respond to circumstances S we were gained or as worse, or we can follow Jesus.

Questions asked: 

1. Is there a painful experience you need to put down?

2. Is there a habit or a behavior that knocks you down?

3. Do you need to a demon see of God’s love, that He is with you in your pain?

4. Do you have a thorn in the flesh that you need to embrace, surrendering it to His presence?

5. Do you need to remember the nails in Jesus feet and hands?

Here is to loving anyway

Here is to hoping anyway

Here is to pressing on anyway

Samuel James / it’s like a genetic predisposition that you swear off in adolescence and surrender to later, the complaining-as-happiness mind virus is alive and well in me.

Life is still disappointing. Things fall apart. My control over my life, my health, my prospects, etc., slips away even faster. So, my eyes drop and I start to look around. I see people who disappoint me. I see churches that let me down. I see teachers that didn’t go far enough with me. I see parents that should have anticipated their errors. I see books that promised what didn’t happen. I see leaders that just don’t get it. And I think: “The problem is them.”

Things I’m learning from sabbatical. Month one.✌🏼

- I’ll never take preaching and teaching for granted again.

- Stress is a master of disguise. It often hides behind your very purpose. 

- My wife carries more of the load than I realized. Just because I don't feel the same emotions doesn't mean they aren't real, and heavy.

- Listening to sermons is easy and entertaining. Living them takes work and accountability.

- Jesus never said, “See you next week.” Follow Me wasn’t an invitation to an event. It was a challenge to give up everything that few responded to.

- Too many visions is no vision at all. If it’s not making or empowering disciple-makers, it’s not advancing the Kingdom.

- Rest isn't failure. Not resting is.

You weren't created for your happiness.

You were created for HIS pleasure.

That bitterness you're nursing?

It's not hurting who hurt you.

It's blocking your worship.

"Thou art worthy, O Lord... for thy pleasure they are and were created"

- Rev 4:11 KJV

Follow @Biblical Man for more truth.

Jonathan Eng’s moving new biography of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Phillip Yancey - We in the body of Christ are called to show love when God seems not to. Page 184

On the other side, daily & vincent

 On the other side the sun always shines

No minutes, no hour, there's no such thing as time
Where the streets are paved with gold
And you never grow old on the other side

On the other side everybody sings
There's miles and miles of flowers and lots of pretty things
Where the sky's pearly blue and everything looks brand new
On the other side

Well I've never been to heaven
I didn't know what it was like
But God let me have a glimpse
In my dream last night

And I could see you smiling
You were looking right at me
For the first time in a long time
On your face I saw some peace

I knew everything
Was going to be all right
On the other side
On the other side

On the other side, do you ever see me cry?
Do you know how much I miss you?
Wish I could have said goodbye
Just one more I love you
Oh, am I really getting through on the other side?

Well I've never been to heaven
I didn't know what it was like
But God let me have a glimpse
In my dream last night

And I could hear you laughing
You were looking right at me
For the first time in a long time
On your face I saw some peace

Colton Dixon 

https://youtu.be/HkO6LS7G8zM?si=jOVdWqddXDJQbp3B

Megan woods https://youtu.be/QWBx0PDK9Pg?si=wUvROUmpJGzvNMJR

More than a name on a wall

 More Than a Name on a Wall

Song by The Statler Brothers ‧ 1988

Overview

Lyrics

Listen

I saw her from a distance
As she walked up to the wall
in her hand she held some flowers
as her tears began to fall
and she took out pen and paper
as to trace her memories
and she looked up to heaven
and the words she said were these...

She said Lord my boy was special,
and he meant so much to me
and Oh I'd love to see him
just one more time you see
All I have are the memories
and the moments to recall

So Lord could you tell him,
He's more than a name on a wall.

She said he really missed the family
and being home on Christmas day
and he died for God and Country
in a place so far away

I remember just a little boy
playing war since he was three
But Lord this time I know,
He's not coming home to me

And she said Lord my boy was special,
and he meant so much to me
and Oh I'd love to see him
But I know it just can't be
So I thank you for my memories
and the moments to recall

But Lord could you tell him,
He's more than a name on a wall.

Lord could you tell him,
He's more than a name on a wall.

God doesn’t work with lazy people

 Let me be blunt: Jesus never called a lazy man.

The Pattern That'll Shake Your Theology

Look at who Jesus called:

- Peter and Andrew? Throwing nets when He found them

- Matthew? Working his tax booth

- Paul? Zealously persecuting Christians (wrong direction, but man was he working)

Notice something? Every single one was DOING something when the Master found them.

The Hard Truth Nobody's Preaching

Here's what the comfortable church won't tell you: Jesus isn't scanning the couches for His next disciple.

Think I'm being harsh? Let's look at what Scripture shows us:

"And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers." - Matthew 4:18 KJV

They weren't "finding themselves." They weren't "waiting for their calling."

They were working.

Why God Passes Some People By

Listen close, because this might sting:

God's hand isn't shortened that He cannot save. His training program isn't full. His power isn't limited.

The problem? It's us.

Some folks want the crown without the cross. The calling without the commitment. The platform without the preparation.

Raw Truth From a Garbage Man's Heart

Every morning at 4 AM, when I'm lifting those bins, I'm reminded: God's looking for people who are already moving.

He's not looking for:

- Professional conference attendees

- Prophecy collectors

- Spiritual tourists

He's looking for workers. Doers. People with spiritual calluses on their hands.

The Selection Process You Never Knew About

Here's what my pastor revealed that shook me:

God immediately identifies who He can work with and who He can't. Not because He's limited, but because He's wise.

Think about it:

- Some have the makeup for discipleship

- Others are in infant stage but show potential

- And some? He won't even call because He sees it's not there

Your Wake-Up Call

Stop waiting for a burning bush while you're binge-watching Netflix.

Stop praying for a ministry while your Bible collects dust.

Stop asking for a calling while you're calling in sick to life.

The Question That Changes Everything

What are you doing RIGHT NOW that shows God you're ready for more?

Not what you plan to do.

Not what you want to do.

What are you DOING?

Because here's the brutal truth: Jesus is still walking by seas, still looking for disciples, still calling workers into His harvest.

But He's passing by the lazy.

And maybe - just maybe - that's why He's passed by you.

Root of Bitterness

 The Silent Killer

The Bible warns us plainly: 'Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled' (Hebrews 12:15).

That word - ROOT - it's crucial. Bitterness doesn't start as a mighty oak. It starts as a tiny root that we water daily with:

- Kept score of wrongs ("He NEVER helps with the kids")

- Collected offenses ("Remember last Christmas when...")

- Nursed hurts ("After all I've done for him...")

- Silent accusations ("If he really loved me...")

The Heart Check

'For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.' (Acts 8:23)

Bitterness reveals where we've stopped walking with Christ and started walking in the flesh:

1. Pride disguised as hurt

2. Revenge masked as justice

3. Self-righteousness cloaked in victimhood

Like Joseph facing betrayal that could have poisoned his spirit (Genesis 50:20), we face daily choices: will we water the root of bitterness or trust God's sovereign plan?

The Bitter Fruit

"Last month, I listened to Sarah (not her real name) confess to a podcast host through tears: 'I used to love my morning prayer time. Now? I can't make it through five minutes without listing all my husband's faults. I stopped going to my prayer closet because it became my complaint department.' Sisters, that's what bitterness does - it doesn't just poison your marriage, it corrupts your communion with God."

How do you know if bitterness has taken root? Look at the fruit:

1. Prayer Life:

- Can't focus on praising God because complaints flood your mind

- Prayer time becomes a complaint session

- 'Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice' (Ephesians 4:31)

2. Daily Thoughts:

- Mental replays of offenses

- Rehearsing arguments

- Planning responses

- 'Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true...honest...just...pure...lovely...of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.' (Philippians 4:8)

3. Marriage Relationship:

- Keeping detailed score

- Sharp responses

- Withholding affection

- Silent treatment as punishment

- 'Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.' (Colossians 3:19)

The Christ-Centered Solution

Remember Christ's words on the cross: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) That's our standard, sisters - not our feelings, not our "rights," but Christ's example.

1. Honest Heart Examination

'Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.' (Psalm 139:23-24)

2. True Repentance

- Not just feeling sorry

- Not just wanting peace

- But turning from the sin of bitterness completely

- "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10)

3. Walking in Forgiveness

'And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.' (Ephesians 4:32)

Practical Steps

1. Morning Heart Reset:

- Open your Bible to Psalm 51:10 before you even check your phone

- In your journal, write the bitter thought: "I'm angry because he never notices when I clean the house"

- Counter it with Scripture: "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord" (Colossians 3:23)

- Pray specifically: "Lord, I release my right to be acknowledged. Help me serve You, not my desire for recognition"

2. Replace Bitter Thoughts:

- When you find yourself mentally listing offenses, quote Philippians 4:8

- Turn "He never helps with the kids" into "Lord, thank You that our children have a father who provides for them"

- Instead of rehearsing hurts, pray blessings: "Father, give him wisdom at work today"

3. Break the Pattern:

- Keep a small notebook in your Bible

- Each night, write three specific things: "Today, he played with our son even though he was tired," "He called to check on me during lunch," "He fixed the leaky faucet without me asking"

- Thank God for each one specifically

4. Practice Daily Forgiveness:

- Set a daily alarm for 7 PM - your "forgiveness check"

- List any offenses from the day: "Lord, I release him from forgetting our lunch date"

- Pray blessing instead of curse: "Father, help him feel Your love through my grace, not my grievance"

The Path to Freedom

Remember the sister from the beginning? She wrote again:

"I realized my bitterness wasn't killing my marriage - it was killing my walk with Christ. Every bitter thought was a brick wall between me and my Saviour. The problem wasn't in my marriage bed; it was in my prayer closet. Last night, instead of cursing his socks on the floor, I thanked God for giving me a hardworking husband who comes home every night."

Sister, if you're sitting in your car right now, heart full of bitter poison, hear me: Christ is sufficient. Your marriage problems might be real, but bitterness will never solve them. It's time to get honest with God.

'Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.' (Psalm 51:10)

The choice is yours: Will you keep watering that root of bitterness? Or will you let Christ dig it out today?

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." (Romans 15:13)

A Daily Creed

 A Creed by Edgar Guest

Let me be a little kinder,

Let me be a little blinder

To the faults of those around me,

Let me praise a little more;

Let me be, when I am weary

Just a little bit more cheery,

Let me serve a little better

Those that I am striving for.

Let me be a little braver

When temptation bids me waver,

Let me strive a little harder

To be all that I should be;

Let me be a little meeker

With the brother that is weaker,

Let me think more of my neighbor

And a little less of me.

Let me be a little sweeter,

Make my life a bit completer

By doing what I should do

Every minute of the day;

Let me toil, without complaining,

Not a humble task disdaining,

Let me face the summons calmly

When death beckons me away.

From Breakfast Table Chat (1914).

Our Influence Matters

As Christians, we have a responsibility to model Jesus’ influence in a world that desperately needs Him. Yet, if we’re honest, surveys consistently reveal that non-churched people see Christians as judgmental, hypocritical, outdated, and overly political. Fair or not, perception matters. And if there’s even a grain of truth in these observations, we must ask ourselves: Are we reflecting Jesus the way we should?

Our communities don’t need more religious arguments. They need Jesus-followers who live out their faith with integrity. They need to see: (Bible References) https://open.substack.com/pub/brianmccutchen/p/christian-influence-matters-making?selection=b9aef690-60bd-4b6f-86f1-a4bc963af027&r=43vew&utm_medium=ios

1 John 16

 One great thing about studying Scripture is that each of can learn an inexhaustible knowledge of truth. But building up a storehouse of head knowledge is useless if we do not apply it to the way we live. Being a brainiac does nut mean we are living and filled with hope. The Holy Spirit will guide us into the truth, changing our character to reflect Christ. Each of us is on the same level before the cross, surrendering our issues before Him. 

“If an angel was to appear right now and tell you that your very next prayer would bring the breakthrough you’ve been longing for, I guarantee you’d be on your knees in a flash! How would you respond if that angel told you to pray daily for a year and that a miracle would take place instantly on the 365th time? Would you do it? Probably! We have no idea how long it’s going to take, but Jesus Himself has already told us not to give up.” - Excerpt, God on Mute by Pete Greig

“False Christians in John’s day used two special words to describe their experience: knowledge and unction. They claimed to have a special unction (anointing) from God that gave them a unique knowledge. They were “illuminated” and therefore living on a much higher level than anybody else. But John pointed out that all true Christians know God and have received the Spirit of God! And because they have believed the truth, they recognize a lie when they meet it.” - Excerpt, Be Real (1 John) by Warren W. Wiersbe

Living as an exile

 HE LIVED a life of love, integrity, witness, and resistance. Rants and condemnation are echo chambers of what others are saying. Asking questions about our own sin that could distract us from His kingdom should be repeated to ourselves and those closest to us. 

Scot McNight

In my opinion, our generation is witnessing yet another dangerous turn away from these moral and ethical guidelines and finding justification for much evil perpetrated against women, orphans, the poor, and the disenfranchised around the world, and, what seems worse, a bold assertion of arrogant exceptionalism—a claim not unlike that of the Jerusalem/Temple elite in Jeremiah’s day that resulted in God permitting Nebuchadnezzar to destroy Solomon’s Temple and turn Jerusalem into a pile of ashes and rubble.

I’m not saying I think Washington is a present-day parallel to Jerusalem or the Whitehouse to Solomon’s Temple. (The God of the Bible has made no covenant with America nor any of its presidents.). I just don’t think I should be surprised to find exceptionalist religions (Nationalism in any form, including, or perhaps especially, Christian).

Jamar Tisby

Religious Nationalism as a Political Weapon

Christian nationalism is not merely a religious movement—it is a calculated political strategy designed to justify minority rule. As Katherine Stewart explains, this ideology claims that America was founded as a Christian nation and that a "sacred heritage" has been betrayed by secular elites. It positions political opponents as enemies of the faith and Trump’s rise to the presidency as a divine sign of God’s favor. In its pursuit of fundamentalist “Christian privilege” it will trample over the principles of participatory democracy.

The War on Public Institutions

Public institutions—especially schools, universities, and government agencies—are primary targets for the anti-democratic movement, which sees them as barriers to conservative dominance. Stewart documents how school boards, state legislatures, and local governments have been infiltrated by activists who aim to reshape education into an instrument of ideological control. 

Disinformation is a strategy

An International Counterrevolution

The authoritarian counterrevolution is not merely a United State phenomenon.

Michael Sprague. 

Our waiting days are not wasting days but are training days. Think of Joseph----13 years of waiting.

Noah-----120 years building a boat.

Moses----40 years in the wilderness.

David----18 years waiting to be King.

Paul----3 years in Arabia.

Abraham----100 years to have a son.

Some of you are waiting as well. I wish I had words tender enough for your soul. However, God has not abandoned you. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Nijay Gupta

“Like how can we go through the change that Paul went through to that our affections would be more and more like Jesus over time?

I love that question. I’ve actually never gotten that question even though I’ve done a ton of teaching on this. I don’t say this tritely, but love must be caught as well as taught, meaning the more we meditate on scripture and know and enjoy Christ’s love for us, the more we see the power of love that empowers us to love others.

It’s that pay-it-forward mentality when someone has loved you and blessed you and changed your life, whether it’s a parent, whether it’s a mentor, someone just reaching out graciously, it softens your heart. It really does. And so I encourage people, spend time in the Gospels with Jesus, spend time in the Old Testament with Yahweh, and read Deuteronomy 6, read the prophets and look at how God says, I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Going with flow leads to unintentional places

 When Scripture warns us to be intentional about our companions (1 Cor 15:33), I believe the Spirit recognizes that as human beings, when we do not set, we slip. 

We do not plan to go down the wrong path, but in the absence of a thoughtful decision, we simply drift into the habits of those around us. Unaware of our influences, we are simply carried along by the strongest currents. 

Paul told his readers to “Set your minds on things above not on earthly things” (Col 3:2). To set requires a measure of intentional focus and precision in carrying out the action. Watching children carefully ordering game pieces or a interior decorator crafting a room model exactly to scale reveal there is nothing haphazard or flippant about fixing attention toward a goal. Daily actions like setting the dinner table or setting the temperature on the oven require attention to detail. If we become content to just “go with the flow” in such situations that call for order, we run the risk of neglecting attention, causing confusion, and creating dangerous discord.

Our moral lives are no different. 

You think you are protected

 Biblical man  - God is not your body guard

You think you're protected.

Wrapped in your comfortable faith like bubble wrap.

Armed with your memorized verses like magic spells.

How painfully naive.

Let me tell you what real spiritual warfare looks like:

It's my brother choking on his own vomit at 3AM, demon-twisted PTSD turning his mind into a slaughterhouse. 

No amount of "Jesus loves you" stops that kind of bleeding.

Your pastor never warned you about this part, did he? The part where darkness doesn't just whisper - it rips through your skull and nests in your brain like a parasite.

Because that would scare the tithe right out of your wallet.

Here's what they sold you instead:

- Prayer warriors (who've never seen battle)

- Spiritual armor (made of cotton candy faith)

- Divine protection (that breaks on first contact)

Meanwhile Hell's laughing so hard it's raining brimstone.

We're not perfect. Not even close.

But we're done pretending.

Done playing church.

Done watching people die in designer faith.

You want to know what real spiritual armor looks like?

It's not your Sunday best.

It's not your cross necklace.

It's not your WWJD bracelet.

It's scars.

Deep ones.

The kind that only come from losing fights with demons and getting back up anyway.

My brother found that out.

In a parking lot.

In his car.

Purging twenty years of military-grade trauma while something with too many teeth smiled from the mirror.

Your "warfare" is a costume party.

His was an exorcism.

Want to know why your prayers bounce off heaven like rubber bullets?

Because you're:

- Playing church instead of wielding faith

- Singing worship instead of screaming truth

- Posting inspiration instead of fighting principalities

The enemy isn't impressed by your Instagram devotionals.

Demons don't fear your Bible app notifications.

Satan doesn't flinch at your retweets of false prophets.

He's too busy celebrating while you:

- Medicate instead of meditate

- Therapize instead of exorcise 

- Comfort instead of confront

You're not wearing armor.

You're wearing a spiritual snuggie.

Brandon and I learned this the hard way:

Real protection costs blood.

Real faith leaves marks.

Real warfare brings scars.

But keep playing dress-up with your Pinterest Christianity.

Keep pretending your "covering" means something.

Keep thinking your sugar-coated songs scare anything in Hell.

Just don't be surprised when the real war starts and you're standing there in spiritual lingerie instead of battle armor.

The darkness isn't coming.

It's already here.

Laughing at your preparations.

Mocking your protection.

And your "armor" is made of tissue paper.

We're not experts. Not gurus. Not polished preachers.

Just two guys with callused hands and battle-scarred faith, recording truth between shift work and family life.

The sound might crack. The edits might be rough. But the warfare is real.

Want the raw, unfiltered truth about spiritual warfare? Join us on this week's MANIFEST podcast. Two regular guys, one desperate mission: to strip the makeup off modern Christianity and show you what real battle looks like.

1 John 15

What attacks on your faith have you experienced?  Do you sense the cultural climate changing regarding our faith?  For me, my biggest attacks have always been from church goers who could not understand how a Christ follower could work in the public setting. They claimed I was compromising the Bible. But Gladys I think there is a shift in the atmosphere. Truth is being redefined with our confidence in most any institution is undermined. Practicing His presence and searching for kingdom opportunities each day is essential. 

“Faith in God comes from getting to know God’s faithfulness. It is a gift He gives to us when we spend time in His presence. It is a reflection of His character in our lives. Faith is not, as many people seem to believe, a transactional commodity we earn. Nor is it a spiritual currency with which we can acquire divine healing, provision, or success. It is a relational posture of trust that enables us to receive the will of God in a way that others can’t. Faith is a pair of open hands.” - Excerpt, God on Mute by Pete Greig

“I hear the clear warning: look out for all that will harm my relationship with God. I find it easy to be defined by my actions, my accomplishments, my title, my family, my popularity. But Paul challenges me today with these words: “whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ”.  Jesus, will you help me to anchor my full identity and confidence in your life, death, and resurrection? Thank you that my life is hidden with Christ in God. Show me how to rejoice in your love instead of my accomplishments today.” - Lectio 365 Morning Prayer 2/19/25

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1 John 14

 What is stopping the rest of the world from hearing the gospel message?  There are probably many reasons but I’ve read that only 2 percent of a church goer’s giving goes to global missions that are indigenous and entrepreneurial. Most giving goes to support the infrastructure of the church itself. We have many concerns and anxieties about our own future, let alone the eternal future of those we’ve never met. But after meeting a few who are risking it all to establish native Les churches and business to help families be self supporting, I want to be engaged in missions. 

“God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.” – J. Hudson Taylor, 1832-1905, missionary to China

“Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell.” – C.T. Studd

“The lust of the flesh includes anything that appeals to man’s fallen nature. “The flesh” does not mean “the body.” Rather, it refers to the basic nature of unregenerate man that makes him blind to spiritual truth (1 Cor. 2:14). Flesh is the nature we receive in our physical birth; spirit is the nature we receive in the second birth (John 3:5–6). When we trust Christ, we become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). A Christian has both the old nature (flesh) and the new nature (Spirit) in his life. And what a battle these two natures can wage (Gal. 5:17–23)!” - Excerpt, Be Real (1 John) by Warren W. Wiersbe

1 John 13

How should you and I measure success? Our culture emphasizes upward mobility and sufficient preparation for the future. We calculate success in terms of status, possessions and power. But when we contemplate ‘success’ in eternal values, how would we explain that term?  I’m thinking that the sermon in the Mount is the most counter cultural statement Jesus could make. His kingdom is inverse of what we normally think of an effective Christian lifestyle. Hunger, thirst, mourning, poverty, and a pure mindset without duplicity are anything but successful American ideals. How can we avoid the narcissistic dream of being all self sufficient and independent?  How can we demonstrate the compassion and empathy of a beloved child of the King?

“Job needed friends to engage the pain, not interpret the pain. He needed friends who would join the chorus of lament, not offer a recipe for a more faithful life. In the end, Job is commended for his honesty while his theologically correct buddies are scolded for their insensitivity. God does not want us to disguise ourselves, hiding the pain we feel so deeply.” - Chuck DeGroat, Leaving Egypt

“Worldliness is not so much a matter of activity as of attitude. It is possible for a Christian to stay away from questionable amusements and doubtful places and still love the world, for worldliness is a matter of the heart. To the extent that a Christian loves the world system and the things in it, he does not love the Father.”- Excerpt, Be Real (1 John) by Warren W. Wiersbe

“C. H. Dodd says that the “lust of the eyes” refers to “the tendency to be captivated by outward show.” He defines the “pride of life” as “pretentious egoism.”4 In each case the same thing is seen: infatuation with natural human powers and abilities without any dependence upon God. That is the flesh in operation, and the flesh is the deadly enemy of humility.” - Excerpt, Celebration of Discipline, by Richard J. Foster